BIOGRAPHY
Michael XtraSolar
Composer/Pianist
Michael wrapped up the end of the 20th Century in a log cabin nestled in the Canadian woods.
He had spent the previous decade immersed in media production, but the city and media circus
had lost their allure.
A pianist composer, Michael has performed for, and had his music featured in, both touring and
stationary virtual reality installations worldwide, including a digital presence at the Smithsonian
Institute. He has recorded and produced for the concert stage, radio and television. In various
bands he has recorded, received national airplay, appeared on radio and television, released CDs, and
appeared on concert stages in the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Italy and Australia.
As media continued to allow spectacle to eclipse quality, Michael set out to provide an oasis on
the internet where sound, visual, text and musical content would pursue “... whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -
- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- (to) think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
For the past ten years, Michael XtraSolar has quietly and anonymously toiled away at his craft,
creating the Musical Journal of the New Millennium (© 2010 XtraSolar Productions LLC). Vol.1
covers the period from 2000-2009 and Vol.2 covers 2010 and beyond.
In an unprecedented move, Michael has just released over 27 hours of originally composed
music in the form of 611 music scores available on the internet to be viewed, listened to,
purchased and/or printed at Sibeliusmusic.com/, and as PDF files at myscorestore.com for use on
Kindle, iPad, etc. These sites will eventually be linked to the XtraSolar.com site (under
construction).
After an absence from the stage, Michael has returned to performing but now as a solo pianist.
Capping off the 27 hours of original scores just released, Michael is releasing his first solo piano
CD. The CD entitled, MICHAEL Plays JOPLIN Plays MICHAEL, features 11 Scott Joplin tunes from
the ragtime era and one original track by Michael, The Jack Rabbit Boogie.
According to Michael, "Joplin's music is infectious, evoking a happy melancholy and cautious
optimism, exactly what the doctor has ordered for our difficult times. Everywhere I play, people
love it, and I'm happy to settle into the background as they enjoy their evenings."
Interspersed among the Joplin tunes, Michael's sets include a few classics from Chopin,
Debussy, Schubert, Beethoven and others, if the mood so moves him and the right harmonic
door opens in his bluesy improvisations. It makes for a pleasant atmosphere and listening
experience.
Michael has recently appeared at the Ann Arbor Arts Center, Hidden Lake Gardens, Jackson Art
Gallery (JAG), the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History, and the Grand Gallery of the Armory
Arts in Jackson. He frequently appears at Jackson's Art 634 for their monthly 'Second Sunday'
art opening.
Michael's CDs are available for purchase at the Jackson Art Gallery located in the Art 634
building @ 634 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson MI. The CD's will soon be available through XtraSolar.com
"Musical Journal of the New Millennium-Vol.1" (2000-2009)© XtraSolar Publishing, 2010:
Contains:
SSV=Still Small Voice-piano/kybds-5 books -H,RJ,SS,SF,SG(9/2/2000-11/25/2001)
H=Heron Collection(Creation)-piano/kybds-------37 compositions(Book I-SSV)
RJ=From the Root of Jesse(Prophecy)-piano/kybds--62 compositions(Book II-SSV)
SS=Sola Scriptura (Word Alone)-Piano/kybds----- -71 compositions(Book III-SSV)
SF=Sola Fide(Faith Alone)-Piano/kybds--------- -90 compositions(Book IV-SSV)
SG=Sola Gratia(Grace Alone)-Piano/kybds------ -100 compositions(Book V-SSV)
****Each of the 360 pieces of music in the collection "Still Small Voice" (I Kings 20:12), contains a 'scriptural reference', which was added after the music for all five books was completed. An elderly conservative Lutheran Pastor, revered by the saints, was asked, "If one were limited to 360 passages from the Holy Bible, of any length (i.e. verse or verses, chapter or chapters, book or books), to teach the essentials of Christian Doctrine in the absence of teacher or pastor, and adhering to the categories provided by the five books of "Still Small Voice"(SSV), which would you choose?"
His answers are the scriptural references appearing at the top of each piece of music, and have been provided along with the KJV Bible link (on the homepage), to give pianists/musicians/composers, something to ponder while listening to or learning to play the music. **** All 360 pieces in Still Small Voice are currently FREE to print****
C(I)=Catalogue I-Piano/kybds----- ----45 compositions(2/28/2003-10/8/2003)
C(!I)=Catalogue II-Piano/kybds----- ---58 compositions(10/31/2002-2/27/2003)
C(!II)=Catalogue III-Piano/kybds----- --69 compositions(11/20/2001-10/31/2002)
C(Z)=Catalogue Z-Piano/kybds---------20 compositions(1/6/2004-3/5/2004)
C(X)=Catalogue X-String Orchestra+ Quartets,Piano+Various woodwinds,wind quartet etc.
-----12 compositions(9/30/2006-2/1/2007)
Musical Journal of the New Millennium"--Vol.2 (2010-2019)© XtraSolar Publishing, 2010
Contains:
C(S)-Catalogue S-Educational Materials(2010)
C(V)-Catalogue V-Ensembles, Quartets,Trios, and piano with various instruments(2010)
C(W)-Catalogue W-piano/kybds(2010)
MPJPM-1 -"America's Rags to Riches-MICHAEL PLAYS JOPLIN PLAYS MICHAEL-Vol.1" (Xtrasolar Productions LLC 2010)--Scores generated from, and MP3's of MICHAEL's performance from the solo piano CD
*******Ultimately, all credit for my performance and composition goes to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for as he said, "apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)*******
MICHAEL <
Read more...