Paul Ellsworth

From Young Composers

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Paul Ellsworth, born in 1985, has been classically trained as a pianist since he was 7. His musical talent began to show in his expression in playing the piano, as well as relative ease in playing and learning music. Begininng around age 13, he began to love music more and more, and started writing music just for fun. By the time he began his undergraduate schooling at The Master's College, he had changed his major (he had always planned on being a Computer Science major) to a double major, Computer Science and Music (Theory/Composition). Additioanlly, he had learned to at least be proficient in trumpet, French horn, bass guitar, and alto recorder, and found himself desiring to play as many instruments as he could get his hands on.

Composition

Being a fairly proficient pianist, Paul's earliest compositions focused mainly on the piano, and were mostly by ear, as he had not learned much music theory. However, after having taught himself much music theory as well as taking a few courses at a junior college, his compositions began to be more formally structured. At Master's, he found he could write fairly quickly, once he had settled on an idea. He also discovered that he loved writing music for other people, and has since written many pieces dedicated to his friends at school, several of which have been performed. Paul tends to write fairly quickly, not spending very much time thinking about what he is composing.

Musical Influences and Tastes

Paul is fairly selective about what he likes and dislikes. He tends to enjoy romantic composers the most, especially of the German school; this is certainly evidenced by his favorite composers, which include Mendelssohn, Schubert, Grieg, Chopin, and Liszt. He does enjoy other genres, as long as it is well done, including some contemporary rock, oldies (especially those groups from the 60s that could actually sing!), and traditional or folk music including Celtic and Hebrew, and even Icelandic.

More Information

More information is available at Paul's website and blog, www.ellsworthcreations.com and www.moralcelery.com, respectively.

Composed Works

Thought not a comprehensive list, this is a list of works Paul would be unashamed of saying he wrote.

Solo Piano

• A Dog Named Roger
• A Long Walk Home
• Berceuse
• Contemplations
• Farewell
• Hornblower Suite
• Impromptu No. 1
• Impromptu No. 2
• Impromptu No. 3
• Impromptu No. 4
• Stars and Stripes for Canada Piano Duet
• Suite Pour Ézékiel
• Toyshop Waltz

Solo Harp

• Wedding Suite (Birdesmaids, Flower Girls, Maternal March)
• Soliloquy No. 1
• Soliloquy No. 2
• Carol of the Birds
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Pretty Music, No. 1
• We Three Kings
• You Are My Hiding Place

Piano and Solo

• Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds (piano, alto voice)
• The Singer and the Accompanist (piano, tenor voice)
• Soliloquy No. 3 (piano, violin)
• Violin Sonatina

Small Ensemble

• America the Beautiful (Brass Quintet)
• Battle Hymn of the Republic (Brass Quintet)
• Carol of the Bells (Brass Quintet, transcribed for Woodwind Quartet also)
• Fugue, No. 1
• Fugue for Three Flutes
• March and Procession (String Quintet, Harp)
• My Country, 'Tis of Thee (Brass Quintet)
• Recorder Dances Nos. 1 and 2 (Soprano, Alto, Tenor recorders)
• Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (Alto voice, piano, violin, clarinet, two flutes)
• There's a River of Life (Men's Quartet)
• Trio for Piano, Harp, and Flute
• We Gather Together (Brass Quintet)
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Brass Quintet)

Christmas Brass Quintet

• Carol of the Bells
• Fum, Fum, Fum & Pat-a-pan
• God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
• Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming
• I Wonder as I Wander
• Little Drummer Boy
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• O Little Town of Bethlehem
• One Small Child
• Silent Night
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Brass Quintet)
• White Christmas

Large Ensemble

• Chant (In progress) (Wind Ensemble)
• Fum, Fum, Fum (Handbells)
• Psalm 19 (small wind ensemble, solo soprano)
• Psalm 24 (Choir)
• Rhapsody for Winds (Wind Ensemble)
• "Tip-toe" Symphony (in progress? 1st movement done?) (Orchestration unknown)
• To God Be the Glory (Choir)