At Amherst, given the overwhelming majority of English, economics and LJST majors, it is easy to overlook majors in other disciplines, like music. Potential music majors are often wooed by conservatories and universities that allow them to eat, sleep and drink music. At Amherst, once known as the Singing College, music often amounts to a Zumbyes or DQ concert or strains of bass-boosted house mixes pouring out of TAP in the wee hours of the morning, drawing not cheers and calls for "encore" but noise complaints from local residents. Few students even know to call the music building by its real name, the Arms Music Center, rather than simply Buckley, which is technically only the name of the concert hall. This year's graduating class has two composition majors, Steve Potter and Eric Wubbels, whose thesis concerts have drawn more attention to the department with such compositions as "The Vienna Opera is a Nazi Whorehouse!" and "Taking off Emily Dickinson's Clothes."

Steven Potter

In September of 1997, Steven Potter chose to come to Amherst instead of a large university or a conservatory. "I was drawn by its reputation as a liberal arts college," said Potter. "I probably would have hated to be at a conservatory." Potter embraced the liberal arts environment and the open curriculum that Amherst offered. "I was happy to have been able to take classes in other disciplines and to think about other things," he said.

Having begun to study piano at age six, Potter's decision to major in music came naturally. "It was always something I had considered," he said. "I did consider doing philosophy, though, and, technically, I started out as a physics major." His musical roots, however, are undeniable. Potter has studied piano since age six and has "been singing in choirs for about five years and played violin for a year."

Aside from a brief stint with an intramural volleyball team, Potter has spent the vast majority of his time at Amherst working on music. "I've been in the glee club and the concert choir here. I've also accompanied all of the choirs on piano," he said.

Potter's dedication to his major reached a climax this spring with his April thesis concert, a recital of various pieces ranging in scope from solo performances and duets to "Passing Through," a piece he wrote for the concert choir.

A quick glance through the night's program afforded the concert-goer a small preview of the humor inherent in Potter's musical oeuvre. Potter cited as a predominant influence on his music, not a noted composer, but "Kids in the Hall," a Canadian improv troupe featured on Comedy Central in recent years. "So many of their skits were just so outrageously funny in so many ways," said Potter. Most of their skits also have an underlying social commentary, Potter noted, "The commentary is there, it's just not what makes it funny. They have a social edge, but it's funny because of our outrageous continuity," he said.

The opening piece of Potter's program, entitled "God, Shaving" featured a wide variety of instruments. The program lists "cups and bottles," "beard-trimmer," "assorted vessels" and "toiletries" as some of the instruments featured in the composition. The notes for the piece-"Just as Herodotus' kings grew in strength till they had outgrown their limits, here musical themes grow till God puts them in their place with her omnipotent razor"-give insight into the less-than-serious nature of the piece, but fail to shed any light on Potter's inspiration, in this case, Buddhist philosophy. "Certain philosophers connect everyday, mundane tasks, or samsara, with the enlightenment, nirvana," he said. "This juxtaposition elevates the mundane, shaving, to a level of divinity."

Other pieces on the night's program included "Justin Earl," "Justin Earl Waiting for the Subway Train" and "Justin Earl Ordering a Pastry. No Wait, Two Pastries Please. (It Was Such a Long Line)." In the program, Potter explains: "While I was studying in Vienna, I became friends with a Texan [Justin Earl], who gave me the assignment to write a piece called 'Justin Earl,' the only requirement being that it last eight seconds." The performed work clocked in at 11 seconds. "This is pretty close," Potter wrote. His second "Justin Earl" effort was another attempt to fit Earl's original criterion.

Next fall, Potter will leave for England's University of Sussex. He will study in a one-year master's program in composition. "After that," said Potter, "I don't really know. I'll probably keep doing some accompaniment of choirs or teach composition or music theory. I'd like to do some more conducting. I've had just a little experience with that."

Eric Wubbels

Like Potter, Eric Wubbels came to Amherst with a strong interest in music, having studied piano since age six and become "seriously interested in classical music in middle school," though he was still undecided on his major. "I came in thinking I would major in English and do a lot of music," he said. "Taking Composition Seminar with [Professor of Music] Lew Spratlan my freshman spring and then Music and Culture III with [Assistant Professor of Music] David Schneider the following term really solidified my involvement with the music department, though."

Wubbels chose Amherst over a conservatory because of the diverse academic opportunities at a liberal arts school. "The conservatory atmosphere struck me as conservative and claustrophobic," he said, "really antithetical to my personality and musical interests. Plus, I felt like it was too early to cut off all my other academic interests and devote myself exclusively to one thing."

At Amherst, Wubbels has taken courses in many departments outside of music, most memorably theater and dance and Japanese. "I studied Japanese for three years, so I feel like I really got involved with that department." Also, Wubbels pursued courses in one of Amherst's most overlooked disciplines, linguistics. "I definitely would have double majored in linguistics if we had more of a department."

"Beyond composition," said Wubbels, "I've done a whole lot of performing here, playing for musical theater, in chamber groups and with orchestra, and co-founding a New Music Ensemble. I had a great experience doing sound design and live music for Eddie Kim's ['00] 'Destination: Immortality' last spring."

Wubbels' compositions have recently sprung out of not an orchestra, but a processor. "Most recently I've been writing a lot for computer," he said. "The program I use to notate pieces and print scores also plays back the music, and the sound card on my computer has a really wide variety of sound patches on it, so I decided to try writing some pieces specifically to be played by this program on my computer." Wubbels has taken advantage of some features unique to the computer, missing from even the most precise orchestra. "Many of the patches just sound silly, so I took it as an opportunity for parody and humor."

Wubbels' most recently written collection of pieces has been a series of "cartoonish reworkings of American folk songs." Wubbels added, "I was also fascinated by the possibility for superhuman speed, accuracy and density, so that's another strand that runs through the pieces."

At Wubbels' February honors thesis concert, he utilized his computer to present not only the sound but the music itself to the audience. "I projected the screen of my computer onto the back wall of the hall, both so the audience would be involved visually, but also for the cartoonish effect of watching all the notes fly by."

Wubbels looks to contemporary composers for inspiration in his own composing. "I devour contemporary music, so certain sounds are always in my ear," in particular, he cited "lots of American composers, Steve Reich, for one." Beyond these inspirations, he said, "I also love folk music from all over the world, and I grew up listening to techno and alternative rock, so those show up in very sublimated ways."

Next year, Wubbels will return to Amherst as a graduate fellow in the music department. "Beyond that," he adds, "I hope my training will allow me to play music well, and in a

way that is exciting and joyful for myself and others."