Pomona College Application
Work Samples
Application to the position of
Assistant Professor of Music, Composition
Work Sample 1 - Bathymetry
an album and composition for percussion and analog synthesizer on Cantaloupe Music
‘Bathymetry’ demonstrates my work in large-scale compositions, production and synthesis.
‘Bathymetry’ is an album of music for percussion and analog synthesizer by composer, Matt McBane and Sandbox Percussion, to be released on Cantaloupe Music on November 4, 2022. It draws on various strains of classical minimalism and modern electronic music production, as well as youtube asmr and ambient modular synth videos. ‘Bathymetry’ is a 40 minute piece in 8 movements scored for a monophonic Moog analog synthesizer, a mix of found instruments (mixing bowl, glass bottles, etc), orchestral percussion (vibraphone, tam tam, etc), and drum sets. The word bathymetry essentially means the topography of the ocean floor, and the bass synthesizer sounds interact with the treble percussion sounds in a way reminiscent of how the ocean floor shapes the waves passing above. The album was composed and produced, and the synthesizer was performed by Matt McBane, the percussion was performed by Sandbox Percussion, and the album was recorded and mixed by Joseph Branciforte.
Work Sample 2 - Topography
a 45-minute septet for cello, percussion, piano and synthesizer
Video of excerpts from each of the 6 movements:
Complete video of premiere:
‘Topography’ is a 45 minute, 6 movement septet for cello, percussion, analog synthesizer and piano, written for Ashley Bathgate and Mantra Percussion. It is the terrestrial companion piece to the aquatic album and composition, ‘Bathymetry’. It was premiered December 6, 2023 at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, and the premiere was featured in the New York Times, and broadcast in its entirety on WNYC’s New Sounds.
Work Sample 3 - ‘Buoy’, ‘Arpeggiator’, ‘Turn Around Again’ and ‘Drift’
4 tracks from my forthcoming album, ‘Buoy’
These tracks demonstrate my electronic music production as well as my violin playing. No scores were created for this music.
Work Sample 4 - Drawn
‘Drawn’ is a composition for bluegrass stringband. I co-produced the record.