Bad Case of an Academic Composer
Professor, student, whatever, do people a favor and get your music performed and heard+ recorded. I suppose its a mindset of sharing and whether you think it does any good for anyone outside the walls of a college setting to hear it, but I would remind you that there are thousands of people who appreciate classical outside academia.
I mean, if there is one thing that gets me every time, its when I visit an academic composer’s site and instantly I’m informed about the scholarships or awards, yet there is no music. I suppose linking your sheet music is supposed to do the trick? Don’t think so….. I could really care less about the art of notation. If its written on a piece of toilet paper, its still going to sound the same as if it was written on a gold-lined parchment with rose petals scattered over the top.
Elixir No. 10 – Provisions – Video
The music is set to an educational flick from the 50s regarding reality and how to keep in it. The film itself is crazy, so I did a little editing and hopefully it makes sense now.
Happy Thanksgiving!
First, not to be a killjoy or party pooper, I would like to point out that I’m not exactly the most patriotic. For instance, I rooted against the US in the Olympics. And as far as I’m concerned, Native Americans got a pretty bum deal. I also would move to another country in a heartbeat if I was in a position to. Not because I’m dissatisfied with the US, but because I love experiencing new places for long periods of time.
Anyway, the way I see it, we are all in a big lottery and wherever we are born is purely chance. So here’s to you, USA.
Wallingford Food Bank
Seattle-based composer Christopher DeLaurenti has quietly followed up his “Favorite Intermissions: Music Before and Between Beethoven – Stravinsky” with “Wallingford Food Bank.” The album was released on the label “Public Record” and is available for free download at the link above.
Here is the description from PRs site: “Seattle phonographer and soundscape composer Christopher DeLaurenti delivers a gritty sonic document of poverty for his Public Record debut. According to the cliché, the starving artist holds a golden thread to class advancement. Does an artist persist in identifying with wealth even to the point of amnesia? This is the sound of the golden thread being cut.”
Listening to DeLaurenti’s soundscapes, from the infamous Seattle WTO riots to the RNC protest in 2004 and from the private moments captured during intermissions in concert halls across the United States to the latest release in Wallingford Food Bank is highly recommended for passionate musical explorers.
Laughing at Tchaikovsky
A funny thing happened to me today while I was driving. As usual I was listening to music. And really, its not as if I listen to classical a lot. I’m all over the dial. But as it happens I was listening to classical and when I turned on the radio the 1812 Overture came on. First I thought is it Tchaikovksy’s birthday or something? You ask why does it have to be his birthday or the 4th of July for that work to be played? It doesn’t. I’m just saying that’s what came to mind initially.
As I was listening I zoned in acutely to every aspect of the work. I normally don’t bother to waste energy going in-depth to a degree that is unnatural to typical musicians. On this occasion, don’t ask me why, but I did. Maybe it was because I thought it could be his birthday and out of respect I would do him that honor. Or maybe it was the nostalgia of past 4th of July celebrations that brought things into focus.
It then occurred to me while I was listening that Tchaikovsky might have created the work specifically with the ending (the last 3 minutes) in mind. I enjoyed the play between themes throughout the first 12 minutes, but I felt a strong nudge, a sort of “hang on its coming,” from the composer throughout. As the time for fireworks struck, I said to myself, you really went over the top, Tchaikovsky. The work is so great yet so self-important. I’ve heard it a million times, but when the victory part struck, I laughed. Yeah you really went over the top, Tchaikovsky! Not many could get away with something so outrageous (not to mention the employment of cannons).
I ended my moment with the overture by pondering, who needs fireworks? Likely they are getting in the way of the real show.
Get Your Hands Dirty
(best if read while listening to “the dimension toll booth,” one post down)
Contemporary composers….. What can I say, I’ve met quite a few. I’ve been getting this nagging sensation lately whenever I hear what some contemporaries of mine are saying regarding what I consider to be important aspects of music. That nagging sensation, its the cross between a pencil up my nose, fingernails on a chalkboard and dishwasher detergent on my tongue. Yes, an assault on the senses. What’s important to me is inspiration, creativity and freedom.
So when I hear you (if you’re reading this) claim that to compose properly is to be academic, I would have to say I disagree.
If you say a composer creates better music if the composer performs as well, I would say that’s a ridiculously asinine statement. Don’t conflate the two, please. Lets move on.
If you were to say that the act of composing itself is restricted purely to the academic world, I would casually reply “fuck off.” The dream of the snotty academic.
My advice to you for this lecture is to get your hands dirty. Let me explain:
When I hear you talk about music, I get the sense that you think about your composition similar to how you think about yourself. You wake up in the morning, take a shower, brush your teeth, shave, put on your suit and tie (lets use a man for this example shall we), eat breakfast, kiss your wife goodbye and stroll out the door. When you compose, you are dressed well in a figurative sense. Your composition requires thought, effort, integrity, and principles.
I say to you, (if you’re still reading this), you are lazy. You are unwilling to get your hands dirty. Get in the mud and roll around. Free yourself of whatever restrictions you feel you have, and from what I’ve heard you say, there are plenty of them.
First, I want you to pound on the piano. Why? Because you pounding the piano in whatever shape or form is creating something more original than you’ve ever accomplished. I know you aren’t the only one pounding the keys in the classical world, but its a start.
Secondly, I want you to compose strictly by improvisation. Yeah, that! The jack off, anyone-can-do-it thing. So lets hear it. Can you retrieve your primal instinct or do you want to stay safe within the confines of a library?
Lastly. I want you to learn, but not just about history. I want you to learn about your contemporaries who are getting their hands dirty.
In the Context of Change
Preface: Readers, you might have been wondering if I’m some kind of nutcase whenever I bring up UFOs and ET. Let me make this clear. I have never seen a UFO or ET and I have never had a supernatural experience. I do look for UFOs on Youtube frequently, but have to say I am not sure I have ever seen one there… and there have been some interesting videos. I think it is true to say that if ETs are visiting Earth and have the technology to do so, then they would have the capability to know exactly who on Earth is carrying what kind of device, such as a camera or video recorder, and if they are in range of the device. So in essence, there is no way to take a picture or video of a UFO unless ET wanted someone to.
So to get to the point. The quote below is a reply of mine over at NNM regarding the current vibe of the US concerning the atmosphere of change with Democratic rule being led by Obama:
I am personally leaning toward “first contact” trumping all change in the near future. This in part due to the pending social advances leading to various other advances in the world due to the world leader, the US, electing Obama. I base this on simple logic because there is too much likelihood of there being massive amounts of intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations with the capability of visiting Earth.
The question then arises, what happens to the religious people of the world when they realize their beliefs were simply beliefs and nothing more?
Or what happens to people like myself if it turns out that a civilization with higher technology has discovered that a Christian-type God is ruling the universe?
Congratulations to Barack Obama!
Amaranth Arthouse Music would like to congratulate Barack Obama on becoming the first black president elect of the United States in the history of the USA!
Let us hope that we can get through another two months of Bush politics until Obama swears in. However, let us be thankful we are one step closer to fixing the damage done by Bush and let us not forget once Obama inherits the mess who initially created it. Lets not make the mistake of blaming the new guy who will work hard on our behalf while the old guy who ignored the masses and their complaints retires at the ranch.
Without a Trace – Steve Moshier
“Without a Trace” was composed in 2000 by Steve Moshier. The version at his NNM page was performed by the Liquid Skin Ensemble at the RealNewMusic Festival ’07. Update: NNM is no more but here is a good link.
The work is the theme which is a minimalistic (in the sense of less is more) walk on the introspective side. A somewhat dark work, but I detected some major interesting spots which could double as minor and in that sense the work props out into the cerebral. This study within the uncluttered framework I find immensely enjoyable.
I could go on and on, but as per my usual suggestion visit the links above to hear the work for yourself; Steve Moshier and the Liquid Skin Ensemble.
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