Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast - Synesthetic Composing with Mary Beth Huttlin

Synesthetic Composing with Mary Beth Huttlin

03/20/13 • 29 min

Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast

Dr. Mary Beth Huttlin is not only a talented composer and clarinetist, but she's also gifted perceptually. She has perfect pitch and a constant stream of melodies in her head to draw from. Mary Beth also experiences auditory-visual synesthesia, meaning she perceives colors when she hears music. In episode 24 of Composer Quest, Mary Beth talks with me about how these gifts affect the way she listens to and makes music. We also discuss why Bach is possibly the coolest composer ever.

Previous Episode

Mary Ellen Childs on Music Composition

Prolific composer Mary Ellen Childs writes music for everything from orchestral instruments to zippers. In episode 23 of Composer Quest, she shares her creative process, which often involves bouncing ideas off of her experimental percussion ensemble Crash. Mary Ellen brings us behind the scenes of a few of her major works, including Click, Dream House, Wreck, and an upcoming project which will combine scents and music.

Next Episode

Cassette Tapes and Synesthesia with Warren Hildebrand

Songwriter Warren Hildebrand of Foxes in Fiction has a special sensory gift. He experiences images and color when he listens to certain music, and hears tones when he sees certain images. In this episode of Composer Quest, we talk about how this synesthesia shades how Warren makes music. Warren also talks about why he loves audio degradation, and why he started the cassette tape label Orchid Tapes. This interview with Warren, by complete chance, happens to be a perfect follow up to my previous interview with synesthetic composer Mary Beth Huttlin.