Eric Malmquist
WSW: When did you start composing?
EM: The absolute beginning was during piano lessons in grade school (including a piece about vampires). I didn’t stay with piano for very long, but much later in high school I picked up electric bass and began to write little songs again.
WSW: What drew you to composing?
EM: Shear indulgence. There are sounds, progressions, and narratives that I love in music, and writing my own lets me delve deep into my favorites again and again.
WSW: Do you play an instrument or sing?
EM: I play electric bass and sing in a church band/choir. I also play double bass, but I much prefer writing to performing!
WSW: Where do you usually compose?
EM: Oddly enough, I’ve been very productive lately writing on the subway here in Chicago. Something about having plenty of background noise but no one interrupting (everyone else is buried in their phones) helps me focus. Otherwise, I plunk things out on a piano or use software.
WSW: What has been your biggest challenge in composing?
EM: Not having deadlines. If I have endless amounts of time, I find myself tinkering, endlessly, with a piece. The pressure of a deadline for a commission works wonders in forcing me to work through problems and be productive.
WSW: Which composer do you admire?
EM: At the moment, Benjamin Britten tops the list. I admire his sound world and his approach – he wanted to be useful.
WSW: What do you do in your free time?
EM: I am a loose leaf tea enthusiast. Lately I’ve been exploring rare Chinese green teas, but I’m not averse to a strong, simple Irish breakfast to kick my day off.
WSW: What do you want the audience to know about your piece?
EM: This piece is sort of an audio collage – instead of traditional variations I take little snippets from the “theme” material and copy and paste and manipulate them together. The theme is actually a harpsichord piece by Couperin called “The Mysterious Barricades” which was introduced to me by none other than Elliot Cole. The result captures some of the character and spirit that enraptured me in the original, but with my own rhythmic and pulsing twist.
Eric’s website