Dirk Tomandl
Composer | Scientist

Welcome!

Welcome to my website! For my day job, I work in drug discovery helping to develop new medicines.

As my passion, I compose classical music. Feel free to roam around this website and discover some new music. Free free to contact me through social media (links at the bottom) or the contact form.

Why I compose Music

Because I have to 😃 It is my passion.

I believe that there is still classical music left to be written. My music is intended to be accessible and enjoyable to casual listeners without requiring a degree in music. My compositions ideally have a catchy melody and base riff as their foundation. I try to explore nontrivial structures, harmonies, and chord progressions. I am not afraid of "beautiful" music.

My Goal

Many orchestras and classical radio stations have become museums of long-dead composers. I want to illustrate that there is room for new classical music that is enjoyable by general audiences and can be played alongside the established catalog of classical compositions. There is space for fresh classical music that does not attempt to imitate a long-gone era.

My Philosophy

Every day authors write interesting books using the same vocabulary and grammar like centuries ago. It is possible but not required to invent new vocabulary and grammar in order to write engaging stories. New vocabulary and form has to serve a purpose rather than being the purpose. The same holds for music where I believe that many contemporary composers put form over content and force themselves to break with the vocabulary and grammar of the past for the sake of being perceived as innovative. The end result often does not connect with the audience and leaves emotional emptiness.

My one and only goal is to use music as a language that communicates emotions and connects with the receptive listener.
Whether the style or form is old or new is irrelevant as long as it enjoyable, likeable, connects, and tells a story.

Please let me know what you think!
Connect with me on
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Playful Passion, Piano Concerto No. 1 (2021)

The piano concerto is melodic, sensual, emotional, loving, gentle, warm, dramatic, intense, storytelling, visual, playful, passionate and has a lot of dialogs. It is inspired by a short, lesser-known melody written by Freddie Mercury.

It describes the journey of love from its gentle beginnings of getting to know each other, falling in love, the waves of getting close, passion, and slowing down, drama, until the epic climax and closure.

"Playful Passion" is a 21-minute-long piano concerto in one movement. It is tonal, accessible, in early-mid 20th century style. Harmonically it uses a lot of jazz harmonies and lesser common chord progressions. The piece is set for flute, clarinet, bassoon, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, timpani, strings, and piano.

Close your eyes and let the music guide you through an intimate journey of love and passion.

What else?

Sarcasm is a language. Beer and Red Wine are food groups. Fried Chicken gives us meaning in life. For cats we are just big, really incompetent cats. Dogs love us.

I wish there were a pill to make people decent, humble, and smart.