Musescore Bvba Blog MuseScorer of the month: Robin M. Butler

Ladies and gentlemen, I think it's a really good day to announce the MuseScorer of July!Just would like to remind you, what I'm talking about: we are featuring one of the brilliant MuseScore members every month for all users of our site on the dashboard, also making a post here with an interview and with a couple of the featured user's works (own compositions or arrangements) included.In July you met Bob Driggs (Iowa Bob), a third-generation tubist with a graduate degree in chemistry.This month, I'm proud to introduce you to Robin M. Butler. Robin is a flutist and also a composer, "hoping to go into film composing", as his MuseScore profile page says."I am a Homeschooled High School Senior with a love for music, born in Chicago IL. The first instrument I started playing was piano, and in 2013 picked up the Flute. shortly after I tried composing for the first time and immediately loved it"Robin manages to express deep emotions even in short compositions. Besides, the sound of his scores is great - so I really enjoyed not only the musical ideas, but also their implementation.Alexander T. (A.T., MuseScore staff member): Robin, thanks for your great scores! I just want to ask you, how did you make them sound so good? Have your compositions been actually played by some performers (ensembles)?Robin M. Butler (R.M.B.): Concerning the playback sound of my scores - over the past couple years, I've always been on the search for the best free soundfonts out there. I've acquired a few over time and used them in my scores, but some are sadly no longer available.Then, regarding "real" performers of my pieces: the first piece of mine ever performed was an arrangement I made for my Flute Ensemble a couple years ago. It was a piece called "Spanish Dance" by Ignaz Brull.As you've understood, I play flute; have had a lot of fun playing in different ensembles with it. I am principal flute in our local youth symphony, I played in a local municipal band this past summer, and I play Alto flute in our Flute Choir.I have written an original piece for our Flute Ensemble this spring titled "Spring Birds Suite", which is a 3 movement piece with each movement having a poem I wrote to go along with them. We are planning on playing that sometime in the next year, but I am not positive when exactly we will.But, I think,the most exciting performance of one of my pieces is the performance of my Adagio. This fall I will get to hear it performed live by the UMSL's orchestra, and will be getting a recording of it as well.A.T.: Sounds awesome! But did you take composition classes or something like that? And I'm really eager to know - generally, what inspires you to compose?R.M.B.: I have not had any formal education in writing music, I have taught myself mostly by ear, and have also picked up a bunch of little things from listening to many composers from Tchaikovsky to Alan Menken.I really draw my inspiration from Emotions. When I am feeling a certain way, I really exaggerate those emotions into the music. my favorite inspiration comes from the Spring Air. It just fills me with life, and that is when I write my best music.A.T.: What a beautiful reply! Now, here come our "traditional" questions - the first one is: what have you shared on MuseScore.com that you're most proud of?R.M.B.: The piece I am probably most happy with is my "Adagio - A Silent Tear". I would like it to be more than what it is, but one is never fully happy with the final version of his/her piece. It is not my usual style of piece, but I am always wanting to learn new styles. It has a place in my heart because of the story behind it, but also because it was the winning piece in the UMSL composition competition for students of Illinois and Missouri (USA) in the Orchestral High School division."Adagio - A Silent Tear" by Robin M. ButlerUnto Thee is my most recent piece and has a unique story, I won't get into that, but I feel it has more potential than most of my pieces."Unto Thee" by Robin M. Butler"Morning Dew" has been one of my most popular scores on Musescore, it's a short little piece, but I was very happy with the mood it portrays."Morning Dew" by Robin M. ButlerA.T.: Great pieces - and, again, your music is really expressive, in my opinion. Hey, thanks for the interview, and here is the second (and the last for today) "traditional" question for you: how did you discover MuseScore?R.M.B.: My brother and I found Musescore while looking for a better program than Finale Notepad, and we immediately loved it. The reason I still use Musescore is because the feel was very different from Finale and Sibelius, I really liked it, and it's only getting better.A.T.: All the MuseScore staff members, including me, are sure to be pleased to hear that!Would like to say thanks again to Robin M. Butler for his beautiful music, and for the nice interview.Also thank you, guys, for reading. And: watch for our next MuseScorer of the month in September!Yours, Alexander T.