John Carey

From Young Composers

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John Carey is a living American composer. His website is http://www.johncareycomposer.com, which has frequently updated downloads of his music.

Musical Style

His style is characterized by a mixture of 20th century harmonies under a more traditional setting. The music utilizes many 20th century techniques (polytonality, rapid meter changes, etc.) though it is still built rather conventionally. As a jazz pianist, jazz influences can also be heard in Carey's works.

If one were to describe the harmonic language, "dreamy" would be a fitting description. Carey's main influences include Mahler, Rachmaninoff and Ravel.

In all of Carey's works, melody is one of the most important aspects. Melodies often reappear all over Carey's major works, sometimes used in such ways that they are barely recognized as the original melodies anymore (for instance, using a melody line as a bass line to set the harmonic base, etc.).

Notable Compositions

Preludes for Piano
Piano Trio in F Minor
Symphony No. 1
Concerto in C# Minor
Symphony No. 2

Symphony No. 2

John Carey's most mature work currently recorded is his Symphony No. 2, dedicated to Catriona Calo. It is in four movements. Its atmosphere is one that is much different from the earlier Symphony No. 1. It's style, in comparison, is more established and modern.

It is available for download on Carey's website.