Of Fearlessness 

is a long meditation piece of mine in just intonation and for an ensemble of horns. It extends Section 2 of Amoghasiddhi, which is for solo horn plus 8 ensemble horns, link to that is further down this page.

Here is it is with some visuals: https://youtu.be/Yi-KyPtfhWU

Also available as audio on a multitude of streaming services.

Part of BT Fasmer's Review of 12 March 2021 'The composition is fascinating, especially the build-up. It might sound strange given the powerful brass tone, but silence is a vital part of the composition. Yet the most fundamental aspect is its watchful atmosphere.'

The full review is here: https://newagemusic.guide/reviews/michael-hugh-dixon-of-fearlessness-review/

Rejuvenated

Gregory van der Struik

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Extended just intonation trombone. The work occasionally features the technique 'going against the grain' where the player moves the slide in the opposite direction to the pitch by changing the harmonic whilst doing so. Read more

Extended just intonation trombone. The work occasionally features the technique 'going against the grain' where the player moves the slide in the opposite direction to the pitch by changing the harmonic whilst doing so. In this case the pitch goes up the harmonic series whilst the tube gets longer. This results in some microtones high up to the 11th harmonic. Other harmonic series ratios are played througout. credits released January 22, 2025 Michael Hugh Dixon - composer Gregory van der Struik - trombone Jack Garzonio - audio engineer, mixer and editor

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Amoghasiddhi

https://michaelsmeditationmusic.bandcamp.com/track/amoghasiddhi

Music for solo horn and 8 accompanying horns written in 1999 to celebrate the great Buddha of All-accomplishing Wisdom. Just intonation including some 19th harmonics. Played by myself and Ian O'brien. Ian engineered and produced this in 2005.

Part of a group of compositions for each of the five Meditation Buddhas. Amoghasiddhi has bar lengths of five beats (section one) and nine beats (sections two and three), wherein the use of nine beats corresponds to the symbol of Amoghasiddhi (Buddha of All-accomplishing Wisdom) sitting on a throne with nine lotus petals, whilst five relates to the number of syllables in his name. 

Between the Buddha and the Bounce

Playful instrumental for trumpet, 3 horns, bass trombones, 3 violins and percussion. Based on my work Prajnaparamita which was for soprano, horn and microtuned keyboard.

My thanks to all the musicians involved: Byron Westbury - trumpet; Annalisa Solinas - horn; Brett Page - trombones; David Manual - percussion; Rachel Westwood - violins and Jack Garzonio for recording engineering and production.

 https://tidal.com/browse/album/151622963

Dakini 

is a companion piece to Heruka for horn and cello. The 7 movements are in extended just intonation. This is a live performance in Budeena, Australia on the 12th of June 2016. Matthew Farrell is the cellist and myself on horn.

Other videos are on my Official Artist YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuwu4i8e1tJ6niEGDXwU_eQ?view_as=subscriber

Empowerment  

follows Manjushri. Energy is raised through repeated musical gestures and metric modulations, followed by a prayer and concluding with a mantra.

https://michaelsmeditationmusic.bandcamp.com/track/empowerment

Viola parts played by James Eccles. Horn parts by myself. Recorded at Kiln Studios by Holly Everingham, 2023.

Heruka

https://michaelsmeditationmusic.bandcamp.com/track/heruka

Honouring the wrathful (energizing and energy clearing) Buddhist 'deity', this 7 movement work, when performed live, has the horn player moving to five locations in the performance space to outline a mandala. The cellist remains seated throughout. 
Extended just intonation, with the 1st movement featuring harmonics 1-31 of the low horn in C. 
Originally released in 2003. Featuring the fabulous playing of Matthew Farrell accompanied by myself on horn.

Locana

The Brass Whisperer

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Performed by Janine Grantham, Paula Newcomb, Michael Hugh Dixon, Matthew Farrell.

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When I Roam

is for 10 horns (2 solo plus 8) and 4 trombones. The work expresses the equalising quality of the Meditation Buddha Ratnasambhava.

3-limit tuning. https://tidal.com/browse/track/150506350