Episode 38: An Interview with Dr. Matthew Santa

Flute 360

Flute 360 | Episode 38: “An Interview with Dr. Matthew Santa”

In today’s episode, Heidi talks with Dr. Matthew Santa who is Professor of Music Theory and Chair of the Music Theory and Composition Area at the Texas Tech University School of Music (Lubbock, Texas, USA). Matt talks about his compositional process, his Sonata for Flute and Piano, and advice for young composers! Check out today’s episode!

Episode 38 – Main Points:

• 0:55 – Snow in Lubbock, TX!
• 1:45 – “I love thinking about the strategy of music: composing, teaching, playing, and making music.” – Matt
• 2:04 – Question: Please tell us your background, your main instrument, and how you got into composing?
• 2:13 – Matt’s musical background.
• 4:09 – Question: What is your compositional process like?
• 4:19 – “I start with the text if I am writing for voice.” – Matt
• 5:00 – “In college, I experimented with starting with a block of meter changes.” – Matt
• 5:58 – Question: How do you choose the block of time signatures?
• 6:34 – Question: How did you come to write your Sonata for Flute and Piano?
• 7:00 – “I wrote the flute sonata for [my wife, Lisa].” – Matt
• 8:01 – “I used the metrical block strategy for the Flute Sonata!” – Matt
• 8:11 – Question
• 8:28 – Answer
• 9:16 – Question: Do you ever feel like Robert and Clara Schumann?
• 10:00 – NFA’s Flute Convention (2016)
• 10:55 – Question: What are your goals and intentions when writing for the flute?
• 11:19 – “I want to write music that people would be excited to listen to and play.” – Matt
• 12:13 – Daniel Dorff’s Episode 35!
• 12:42 – Question:What’s your favorite piece of all your compositions?
• 12:47 – Matt’s answer.
• 13:25 – Question: Any suggestions for the budding new composer?
• 13:31 – “Finish all the pieces that you start.” – Matt
• 14:15 – Question: Is there a common issue that you see among composition students when you work with them on their pieces?
• 14:49 – “Finish what you start...and write A LOT!” – Matt
• 15:05 – Louisiana State University’s School of Music
• 15:54 – “...the discipline piece is huge!” – Matt
• 17:12 – Matthew’s colleague: Michael Berry (University of Washington)
• 17:44 – “The initial four chords...is the chord progression found in the 2nd movement of my Flute Sonata!” – Matt
• 18:32 – Question: Any last comments and/or suggestions that you would like to share?
• 18:51 – Matt’s answer.
• 19:27 – Jessye Norman singing, “When I am Laid in Earth” by Purcell.
• 19:35 – Brahms’ Violin Concerto.
• 23:06 – Picks!

Picks:

Matt

• Album: Introducing Brad Mehldau (1995)
• Book: Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond (1997)
• Book: Organized Time: Rhythm, Tonality, and Form by Jason Yust (2018)

Heidi

• Documentary: Man on Wire (2008)
• Audible Book: Hope in the Dark by Craig Groeschel

Episode 38 – Resources:

• Texas Tech University’s Music Theory Department
• Santa’s Biography
• Santa’s Course Resources
• Lisa Garner Santa performing Dr. Matthew Santa’s “Sonata for Flute & Piano”
• MSR Classics: Dr. Lisa Garner Santa’s Shades of Sound CD
• Heidi Kay Begay’s Website

Episode 38 – Sponsors:

• J&K Productions’ Website