On Arranging and Composing
As a young child, I sang, played piano by ear and wrote little melodies. At age 7, I started formal piano studies with Dorothy G. Knowlton. I learned to play guitar in high school and studied classical guitar with Jean Wells. At that time, I composed small pieces and arranged popular songs for piano. I was always fascinated with exotic scales, unusual harmonies and syncopated jazz rhythms.
I was fortunate to major in music composition at Cal State University, East Bay, where acclaimed composer, Frederic Fox, gave me the tools to become stronger and more focused in my writing. I studied the major periods of music and wrote pieces in the style of representative composers, e.g. Brahms, Chopin and Stravinsky. I also took extensive classes in orchestration and contemporary styles. Under Dr. Fox’s tutelage, I wrote many works for different instrument groups, culminating with a piece for chamber orchestra.
Since my undergraduate training in composition, I have had the privilege of working with such mentors as Julian White and Jason Levis. I have since composed and arranged numerous works for chorus, piano and instrumental ensembles.
At the recording session of "Laying Rails."
I became enchanted with authentic folk music when I was in the Kodaly music Master’s Degree program at Holy Names College. A group of us formed Calicanto Associates to research the traditional music of California resulting in the publication of two books on the subject. Subsequently, I was propelled to write a collection of choral arrangements based on these beautiful California folk songs. Eventually this led to my three-part choral cycle “California Collage.” I was honored to win three separate prizes for each part of “California Collage” (Origins, Journey for Gold and Laying Rails) from the Music Teachers Association of California Composers Today Competition.
While I was teaching piano classes at Diablo Valley College, I wrote a collection of folk song arrangements for two pianos, Over the past five years, these duos have been used extensively at DVC.
“Turkish Impressions” was inspired by a trip to Turkey several years ago. It is an 18-minute work for winds, strings and hammered dulcimer. It was performed by the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra on November 4, 2017.
“Snap, Rattle and Plunk” for piano and marimba was written in 2018 and based on a twelve-tone row. It was recorded at New Improved Studio with Steve Blum on piano and Tim DeCillis on marimba.
In 2019, I wrote “Desert Moonlight,” based on a traditional Japanese folk song. In 2022, it was performed at a concert sponsored by NACUSA and professionally recorded at New Improved Studio, featuring Jessie Nucho, flute; Lyle Sheffler and Sharon Wayne, guitars. Also, in 2022, “Desert Moonlight” received 2nd place prize in the MTAC Composers Today Competition.
In 2020 and 2021 I composed a number of choral pieces, including “Jovano,” based on a Macedonian folk song, “Child of God,” inspired by a traditional Spiritual, and “Henry Martin,” a setting of an English ballad.
In 2021, I wrote a series of modal pieces for piano, entitled “Suite a la Mode,” and in 2022 a piano composition based on the Locrian mode, entitled “Locrian Locomotion.” This piece won 2nd place in the MTAC Composers Today Competition and will be performed in Santa Clara on July 2, 2023.
In 2023, I composed a choral arrangement of the beautiful folk lullaby, “All My Trials.” It was scored for SATB or SSA plus piano, flute and percussion. On June 10, 2023, the Bay Area NACUSA Chapter presented a choral concert entitled, “All of Us” through Old First Concerts in San Francisco. “All My Trials” was one of the pieces performed by the Masterworks Chorale subgroup, Serenade.
A day at the office.
“I really like your piece, and enjoyed listening to its textures and relating them to your inspiration. The writing for piano and exchange of lines sound incredibly colorful. There are a lot of very sensitive and crystalline-like wide intervals in the upper register of the piano that sound beautiful.”
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Books and Collections of Musical Arrangements:
50 Choral Arrangements of Traditional Songs 2006-2017
Kester, N.N., Arlen, K
Calicanto Associates, Oakland, CA
Folk Songs for Piano Ensemble 2001
26 Two and Three Part Arrangements
in 21 Major and Minor Keys
Kester N.N.
Days of Gold! Songs of the California Gold Rush 1999
(in 2nd printing)
* On California State approved list for Music & Social Studies Standards
Arlen K., Batt M., Benson M.A., Kester N.N.
Calicanto Associates, Oakland, CA:
They Came Singing: Songs from California’s History 1995
(in 8th printing)
* On California State approved list for Music & Social Studies Standards
Arlen K., Batt M., Benson M.A., Kester N.N.
Calicanto Associates, Oakland, CA
Recorder Series 1990 - 2017
(for recorder ensemble with guitar chords)
Trio Book for 2 soprano and 1 alto recorder
Duet Book: Folksongs for beginning sop. recorders
Round Book: canons for C recorders
Christmas Books: three books of carols,
arr. for soprano, alto and tenor recorders
HIGHLIGHTS and HISTORY
ELEMENTARY through HIGH SCHOOL:
As a young child, I sang, played piano by ear and wrote little melodies. At age 7, I started formal piano studies with Dorothy G. Knowlton. I learned to play guitar in high school and studied classical guitar with Jean Wells. At that time, I composed small pieces and arranged popular songs for piano.
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:
B.A. in Music Composition and Piano: California State University, East Bay, Hayward, California
Studied composition, music theory and orchestration under Frederic Fox, Ernst Gloe and Robert Basart
Wrote numerous compositions for various instrumental ensembles
GRADUATE EDUCATION and KODALY TEACHING:
M.M. in Music Education, Kodaly Emphasis, (instrumental focus, piano): Holy Names University, Oakland, California
Wrote choral arrangements based on traditional folk songs
POST GRADUATE EDUCATION, TEACHING and COMPOSING:
Developed Private Studio, teaching piano, guitar, recorder, theory, and music composition
Joined Music Department Faculty at Contra Costa & Diablo Valley Colleges,
teaching courses in: music theory, piano, and music literature
Studied composition with Julian White and Jason Levis
Researched and co-authored two books on the traditional songs of California, self-published and distributed through Calicanto Associates
Composed over 40 choral arrangements based on traditional, historic songs
Co-Presented workshop on “Singing History through Choral Arrangements” with Karen Arlen in 2010, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, National Conference, Dallas, TX
Wrote Folksongs for Piano Ensemble: arrangements in 21 different keys for piano duo, suitable for group piano classes and private studios
Composed small works for piano and instrumental ensembles
Performed original works for solo piano and piano duos in numerous venues, including “Northern Lights” for piano duo with Susan Bruckner at faculty concert: Diablo Valley College 2010
Composed three-part choral work for SSATB and piano, entitled “California Collage: Origins, Journey for Gold and Laying Rails,” each section describing an era of California history.
Gave several performances of each part of “California Collage,” and had “Laying Rails” recorded professionally. Created vimeo of “Laying Rails”
Won 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in the Composers Today Competition of the Music Teachers Association of California for all three parts of “California Collage” and for “Theme and Variations” for piano solo
Wrote “Turkish Impressions,” an 18-minute work for strings, winds and hammered dulcimer, based on traditional Turkish modes and rhythms. Piece will be performed by the San Francisco Composers’ Chamber Orchestra November 4, 2017.
Musical Composition Awards
Music Teachers Association of California,
Composers Today Statewide Composition Competition:
“Locrian Locomotion” - 2nd Prize, 2023
“Desert Moonlight” - 2nd Prize, 2022
“Laying Rails” – 1st Prize, 2015
“Journey for Gold” - 2nd Prize, 2013
“Origins” – 3rd Prize, 2012
“Theme and Variations” – 2nd Prize, 2012