The Musician's Path
@themusicianspath.bsky.social
N. Andrew Walsh, composer and musicologist.
Exploring the postwar avant-garde and all the messy and related issues in the philosophy of the arts.
Substack: nandrewwalsh.substack.com
Exploring the postwar avant-garde and all the messy and related issues in the philosophy of the arts.
Substack: nandrewwalsh.substack.com
Pinned
Begin Here
"Graphic" Scores in theory and practice
open.substack.com
I'm going to start writing about my interests in music of the postwar avant-garde, with longer-form essays on Substack, videos on Youtube, and shorter posts here. Here's the start:
open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
I've now completed my second essay presenting results from my research project this summer, dealing with the concept of institutional innovation, and how a Conservatory confronts challenges to its identity: open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
The Avant-Garde at the Academy: Rejecting Innovation
An ongoing series of preliminary findings from the field.
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I've now completed my second essay presenting results from my research project this summer, dealing with the concept of institutional innovation, and how a Conservatory confronts challenges to its identity: open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
I've just finished writing up a short summary (which will probably be the introduction to a series) on my research this summer into the performance and teaching history of graphic scores:
open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
Historical Research: The Avant-Garde at the Conservatory
Some preliminary findings from the field
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I've just finished writing up a short summary (which will probably be the introduction to a series) on my research this summer into the performance and teaching history of graphic scores:
open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
Tomorrow night is the opening of the BAM! festival for new music-theater here in Berlin, and I'm really looking forward to both the theme ("where do we go from here?") and the collaboration with a lot of artists and groups from Poland.
Here's the (English) festival page: bam-berlin.org/en
Here's the (English) festival page: bam-berlin.org/en
BAM! – Berlin's Festival for contemporary music theater 2025
Berlin's Festival for contemporary music theater 2025
bam-berlin.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Tomorrow night is the opening of the BAM! festival for new music-theater here in Berlin, and I'm really looking forward to both the theme ("where do we go from here?") and the collaboration with a lot of artists and groups from Poland.
Here's the (English) festival page: bam-berlin.org/en
Here's the (English) festival page: bam-berlin.org/en
For those of you in Berlin, I'll be giving a public lecture on the 24th of November, 18:00 at the Department of Theater Studies of the Freie Universität Berlin. The topic is "Interpretationsgeschichte grafischer Partituren" ("performance history of graphic scores") and will be in German. Info below:
October 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
For those of you in Berlin, I'll be giving a public lecture on the 24th of November, 18:00 at the Department of Theater Studies of the Freie Universität Berlin. The topic is "Interpretationsgeschichte grafischer Partituren" ("performance history of graphic scores") and will be in German. Info below:
To improve my skills with a pen, I also sometimes draw more … representational images. Drawing realistic scenes with pen and ink takes a lot of practice, and I'm still learning. One of my projects is a gift for some neighbors: a scene from a summer evening around a fire. This is the first version:
October 25, 2025 at 7:18 AM
To improve my skills with a pen, I also sometimes draw more … representational images. Drawing realistic scenes with pen and ink takes a lot of practice, and I'm still learning. One of my projects is a gift for some neighbors: a scene from a summer evening around a fire. This is the first version:
It's barely visible here, but buying that set of draughting tools last week enabled me to complete the final step of this score: I fed some silver metallic ink into the nib and added a few silver highlights. With that, the piece is finally finished.
October 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
It's barely visible here, but buying that set of draughting tools last week enabled me to complete the final step of this score: I fed some silver metallic ink into the nib and added a few silver highlights. With that, the piece is finally finished.
I've finally finished collecting all the tools I wanted for my pen and ink work. This last set: an extra Graphos with a removable reservoir for alternate ink, some ruling pens, and an extremely well-kept set of compasses. Most of this stuff is probably 50 years old or more.
October 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I've finally finished collecting all the tools I wanted for my pen and ink work. This last set: an extra Graphos with a removable reservoir for alternate ink, some ruling pens, and an extremely well-kept set of compasses. Most of this stuff is probably 50 years old or more.
I'm putting the finishing touches on the score I've been working on over the summer, and now I'm at the last step: a few highlights with metallic ink, using a newly-acquired set of drawing tools. But I've posted pictures of a few sheets here: nandrewwalsh.substack.com/i/160921049/...
Compositions, Performances
It’s been pointed out to me a few times that there are very few examples of my work accessible online, and that it might be a good idea to rectify this situation, so here below are a few examples of m...
nandrewwalsh.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
I'm putting the finishing touches on the score I've been working on over the summer, and now I'm at the last step: a few highlights with metallic ink, using a newly-acquired set of drawing tools. But I've posted pictures of a few sheets here: nandrewwalsh.substack.com/i/160921049/...
I'm currently writing an essay, together with musicologist Emma Devillé, about electronic sound artist Maryanne Amacher. It's brought up a lot of chaotic reflections that I've tried to put together in this brief essay: open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
Maryanne Amacher
Some scattered reflections
open.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I'm currently writing an essay, together with musicologist Emma Devillé, about electronic sound artist Maryanne Amacher. It's brought up a lot of chaotic reflections that I've tried to put together in this brief essay: open.substack.com/pub/nandreww...
Ignore the fuzzy-caterpillar thing in the upper left, and the thick, wobbly lines along the bottom right. I took a different approach with my marking here, and it got an effect I've been trying to achieve since I started. Instead of solid figures on a flat plane, this feels like it has depth.
August 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Ignore the fuzzy-caterpillar thing in the upper left, and the thick, wobbly lines along the bottom right. I took a different approach with my marking here, and it got an effect I've been trying to achieve since I started. Instead of solid figures on a flat plane, this feels like it has depth.
Follow-up: the two sheets with color. I re-did the original (left) because I didn't like the shape or the color of the yellow and orange: they both look flat and uninteresting, and lack dynamism. I'm not much happier with the colors of the re-do (right), but at least the shapes are a bit better.
August 17, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Follow-up: the two sheets with color. I re-did the original (left) because I didn't like the shape or the color of the yellow and orange: they both look flat and uninteresting, and lack dynamism. I'm not much happier with the colors of the re-do (right), but at least the shapes are a bit better.
One the left, the first version of the inking for my current page. On the right, the second. I wasn't happy with how the watercolor turned out on the former, so I'm redoing it. But now I feel like some of the forms/textures were better in the first one.
August 16, 2025 at 2:53 PM
One the left, the first version of the inking for my current page. On the right, the second. I wasn't happy with how the watercolor turned out on the former, so I'm redoing it. But now I feel like some of the forms/textures were better in the first one.
My two most recent pages for this score, both A5 format.
August 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
My two most recent pages for this score, both A5 format.
A good example of how I'm still learning how to make scores like this. On the left is my first attempt at using mostly purples and doing some more shading. But the colors are too vivid and blotchy, there's too little ink, etc. On the right is my second attempt.
August 3, 2025 at 2:50 PM
A good example of how I'm still learning how to make scores like this. On the left is my first attempt at using mostly purples and doing some more shading. But the colors are too vivid and blotchy, there's too little ink, etc. On the right is my second attempt.
With heavy heart I close the door on my office on my last day at the institute. It was a lovely three months, but alas! at its end.
I'll be writing about the project on my substack, now that I suddenly have a lot of free time.
I'll be writing about the project on my substack, now that I suddenly have a lot of free time.
July 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM
With heavy heart I close the door on my office on my last day at the institute. It was a lovely three months, but alas! at its end.
I'll be writing about the project on my substack, now that I suddenly have a lot of free time.
I'll be writing about the project on my substack, now that I suddenly have a lot of free time.
I now have at least one complete set of all three sizes of this score I'm working on (though I'm not yet decided whether I want to add A3). The rainbow score and the one top-left here were both attempts to replace the first score I posted from this series. I think this one works.
July 26, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I now have at least one complete set of all three sizes of this score I'm working on (though I'm not yet decided whether I want to add A3). The rainbow score and the one top-left here were both attempts to replace the first score I posted from this series. I think this one works.
www.simpk.de/ueber-uns/ve...
I'll be giving a lecture/presentation tomorrow at 15h here in Berlin (see below) on my research project of the last three months. It's at the institute, next to the Philharmonie. It'll be in German and about an hour. Sorry for the short notice!
I'll be giving a lecture/presentation tomorrow at 15h here in Berlin (see below) on my research project of the last three months. It's at the institute, next to the Philharmonie. It'll be in German and about an hour. Sorry for the short notice!
Interpretationsgeschichte grafischer Partituren
Der Komponist und Musikwissenschaftler N. Andrew Walsh, zur Zeit Gastwissenschaftler am SIM, über erste Ergebnisse seiner Forschung im Bereich der Aufführungspraxis grafischer Partituren.
www.simpk.de
July 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
www.simpk.de/ueber-uns/ve...
I'll be giving a lecture/presentation tomorrow at 15h here in Berlin (see below) on my research project of the last three months. It's at the institute, next to the Philharmonie. It'll be in German and about an hour. Sorry for the short notice!
I'll be giving a lecture/presentation tomorrow at 15h here in Berlin (see below) on my research project of the last three months. It's at the institute, next to the Philharmonie. It'll be in German and about an hour. Sorry for the short notice!
Well, it wasn't my intention to make a score this … colorful. I've really been trying to limit my palettes. But I got carried away with the watercolors and oops I inadvertently made a rainbow-colored graphic score.
Happy Pride, everybody.
Happy Pride, everybody.
July 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Well, it wasn't my intention to make a score this … colorful. I've really been trying to limit my palettes. But I got carried away with the watercolors and oops I inadvertently made a rainbow-colored graphic score.
Happy Pride, everybody.
Happy Pride, everybody.
I'm making progress on this score I'm working on: here below (on the left) is the latest sheet I finished, alongside the other A6-sized sheet from earlier this week. I'm getting better at mixing colors and controlling the blending, and better at the overall composition.
July 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I'm making progress on this score I'm working on: here below (on the left) is the latest sheet I finished, alongside the other A6-sized sheet from earlier this week. I'm getting better at mixing colors and controlling the blending, and better at the overall composition.
Relatedly, I've started making some prototypes for a composition I'm working on. The first new score in almost a decade. I'm trying to incorporate some of my thinking from my blog, using less diagrammatic/schematic visuals, and adding some depth/color.
This is just a prototype, but it's a start.
This is just a prototype, but it's a start.
July 3, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Relatedly, I've started making some prototypes for a composition I'm working on. The first new score in almost a decade. I'm trying to incorporate some of my thinking from my blog, using less diagrammatic/schematic visuals, and adding some depth/color.
This is just a prototype, but it's a start.
This is just a prototype, but it's a start.
I've now completed (I think) all of my interviews for this research project. This last week was four of them, with all-day train rides to Stuttgart and Vienna (Austria) for some of them. It's been exhausting.
Now I have three weeks to analyse all the text and prepare a lecture.
Now I have three weeks to analyse all the text and prepare a lecture.
June 30, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I've now completed (I think) all of my interviews for this research project. This last week was four of them, with all-day train rides to Stuttgart and Vienna (Austria) for some of them. It's been exhausting.
Now I have three weeks to analyse all the text and prepare a lecture.
Now I have three weeks to analyse all the text and prepare a lecture.
I'll be traveling to Stuttgart this weekend, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my event "18 Stunden zur Anfechtung der Sommersonnenwende" by performing Yoko Ono's "Promise Piece," in which I will reassemble the suit I war performing her "Cut Piece" at the original event.
June 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I'll be traveling to Stuttgart this weekend, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my event "18 Stunden zur Anfechtung der Sommersonnenwende" by performing Yoko Ono's "Promise Piece," in which I will reassemble the suit I war performing her "Cut Piece" at the original event.
Went to an absolutely fascinating lecture yesterday hosted by my institute: paleolithic instruments and cave acoustics. They demontrated reconstructions of flutes and stone instruments and used acoustic modeling to recreate the resonance of the caves where the originals were found.
June 6, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Went to an absolutely fascinating lecture yesterday hosted by my institute: paleolithic instruments and cave acoustics. They demontrated reconstructions of flutes and stone instruments and used acoustic modeling to recreate the resonance of the caves where the originals were found.
Had my first interview yesterday, with composer Mayako Kubo, who lives in Berlin and graciously agreed to sit for an interview. We talked for a few hours and now I have a *ton* of media files to sort through and analyze.
It's fascinating doing this kind of work, learning the history.
It's fascinating doing this kind of work, learning the history.
May 29, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Had my first interview yesterday, with composer Mayako Kubo, who lives in Berlin and graciously agreed to sit for an interview. We talked for a few hours and now I have a *ton* of media files to sort through and analyze.
It's fascinating doing this kind of work, learning the history.
It's fascinating doing this kind of work, learning the history.
I've made a new friend at the office (pictured). I think this is the same crow who comes to the bath on the terrace every day at 12:30 for a drink.
Now I need to get some peanuts and a feeding bowl. If I manage to get him eating out of my hand by the end, my fellowship will be a success.
Now I need to get some peanuts and a feeding bowl. If I manage to get him eating out of my hand by the end, my fellowship will be a success.
May 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I've made a new friend at the office (pictured). I think this is the same crow who comes to the bath on the terrace every day at 12:30 for a drink.
Now I need to get some peanuts and a feeding bowl. If I manage to get him eating out of my hand by the end, my fellowship will be a success.
Now I need to get some peanuts and a feeding bowl. If I manage to get him eating out of my hand by the end, my fellowship will be a success.