John McDonald: MTNA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer 2007.(Forum Focus: Composer Commissioning)(Music Teachers National Association)

Believe it or not, some people today try to distill beauty from daily complications. John McDonald is one of those people. Inspired by observations of everyday events, he composes his musical responses to life, literature and existing music, keeping it simple by scoring his musical thoughts using a good pencil and 11x17 oblong manuscript paper. Bravo? Someone still recognizes the value of an original manuscript in the composer's hand compared to the computer-generated score. He encourages his students at Tufts University to try handwriting for its beneficial effects upon their compositional processes. McDonald opts for simplicity in other areas as well. He prefers small dinner parties to big gatherings so that people have a chance of speaking meaningfully with one another. He prefers the intimacy of solo recitals, song recitals and chamber music because they hold the possibility of informality, of sending true personal messages. He likes the miniature "character piece" or song-like form the most.

McDonald's music, however, is anything but simple. At times it is compelling, gripping, grave and moving; at other times it is meditative, lyrical, lovely and wistful. He inspired writer Bob Bochnak (Tufts Journal, January 2002) to say that "McDonald confronts his audience with music of our times."

McDonald's compositions have been performed on four continents by a world-class list of ensembles and individual performers, often including himself at the piano. A prolific composer, he composes piano miniatures, songs, chamber works and has completed a "piano album" every year since 1984, chronicling difficulties and joys of daily life. His musical ideals have adjusted themselves somewhat over the years, moving toward his current preference of a somewhat lighter touch, which he feels allows more potential for power and surprise. The fundamental quality he admires most in all music is sincerity, even though he finds it surprisingly elusive.

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For him, there are not favorite composers so much as favorite musical elements or cherished pieces. McDonald says that his music reflects the things he likes: "two-note phrases that weep downward,... athletic pianism--big crashing ...