Happy Birthday, Mozart!
I find it hilarious when fellow contemporary composers disrespect Mozart. They’re just jealous.
Have I Mentioned I’m On Twitter?
Click Here to Follow Me on Twitter
Twitter is kind of like crack, very addictive. If you want to know what I’m up to, talking about, debating, theorizing, etc., in 140 characters or less, then you should “follow me” on Twitter!
Some of my guests have already joined me, like Holokinesis. I told Marc Chan about it, but last I heard he’s still stuck figuring out Facebook. Marc?? Really??
The good news is that its much easier to learn than Facebook. If you know that one popular basic function in Facebook, which is JamesCombs is ____ (fill in the blank), then you already know Twitter, because that is all you do. My best description is that its basically a turn-based chatroom. Someone might say something to you and you can reply two hours later or 5 seconds later for that matter.
See you there!
Bats in the Belfry Cover Art and Track List
I ended up describing my works as bagatelles. Steve Layton had the great idea of petites four, which I would have gone with if I thought I wouldn’t encounter the genre problem, but I know I will. At least a traditional classical name might hint the outstanding workers at the distribution sites to label our music correctly. But I am still not expecting much in the way of cooperation.
Speaking of Steve Layton, he did the artwork for my album cover, which is a shot of Mary Jane Leach’s residence, which happens to be a church with a bell tower. Thanks once again to both of them.
Also notice the NetNewMusic logo, which will likely be employed by various artists composing avant-garde works in the future. The latest release date is set for February 29, 2009. As I’ve mentioned, I am simply releasing the mp3s for DL this go around.
18 Bagatelles (Bats in the Belfry) -38 minutes-
1. Tonsils on Piano
2. Two Dimes and a Penny
3. The Soaring Tortoise
4. An Incidental Lucid Moment
5. Silence Gave Way
6. Four
7. Drifting Lanterns
8. The Deevolution of Adam and Eve
9. Intermission (bats in the belfry)
10. Gliese 581 d
11. Chatoyant
12. Colony Plans
13. Plastic Stream
14. Two Robots Enjoy a Gourmet Dinner
15. A Quiet Exit
16. Old Brick Well
17. The Postnational Anthem
18. Goodbye
The Postnational Anthem
Bats in the Belfry is complete.
This work is dedicated to war, strife, economic hardship and other great “civilized” nation leading qualities.
Bats in the Belfry is this Close (pinches thumb to index finger)
Similar to Charmed Elixirs, I’m going to write a last work, which will probably be the longest of the bunch, to close out this set.
My only concern now is the cover art and what the hell to call the works. Spiritini calls them bagatelles, which is probably most accurate, but it sounds so old fashioned. I’m perplexed about this. Then there is the issue of online distribution(OD). I’m leaning toward signing up with every OD that doesn’t make me sign up exclusively. Don’t know what I’ll encounter.
Do We Need Performers?
Of course we do! I had a nice long talk with my friend, Paul Bailey, at Twitter about David Toub’s masterwork, This Piece Intentionally Left Blank, I edited for my VSTi (that’s right, no one played a note of it!). Often referred to as realization, but since that is commonly associated with crappy midi and since the quality of samples has improved with VST and the Akoustic Instrument library I use, I prefer just calling it a piano. But I am aware many purists may disagree with that even if the sample weighed as much as a Steinway Grand D.
You can hear it at the link for David Toub. Basically, as I told David, its a sort of jam session in this version. Random velocity and emphasis on beats during the pulsating notes (this is a postminimalist work). Paul feels the beat makes it sound like its been played by a pianist with technique which could be improved, but with soul. I like the soul part.
Paul does have a point. Perhaps if I played the notes myself I wouldn’t have opted for the beats and would instead have played a more even, focused interpretation. But what this comes down to is that we are getting closer and closer to quality samples rivelling the best instruments. Will this replace the performer? Never I say!
A Nice Gesture
Riccardo Massari Spiritini was kind enough to dedicate a new work of his to me and specifically Bats in the Belfry as inspiration for his new work titled “3 Bagatelle.” I listened to it and really find it a great work of 3 improvs. Fantastico!
The De-Evolution of Adam and Eve
Oh the humanity! What is not to love about our species?
The De-Evolution of Adam and Eve
Tonsils on Piano
I’ve been fighting a virus for the past two days and yesterday was the worst. I had achy joints all day, but no fever. So I go to bed and wake up with all the joint pain gone, feeling good as new. Except my throat feels raw. So I go and look in the mirror and they are three times as big. Seeing that I didn’t have a fever, I’m pretty sure this is some kind of viral tonsillitis.
I’ve been getting the vibe from people that Bats in the Belfry is too mean. I really don’t care, but since I’m not 100% health-wise, I’ll give the people something not so mean. Its a little ode, once again, to Nancarrow. Funny, though, once I plug the high powered grand VST in, it sounds a little Chopin-esque. Of course, with my style stamped in there somewhere.
Meet the Breece’s
The Breece’s site scares me sometimes, I have to admit. Caroline’s because there are surgical tools splayed about in pictures which my imagination could think up a gory use for, and Michael, besides his frank talk and scattish humour and videos he sometimes posts, seemingly in the dead of night, shirtless in what looks like his basement while fiddling with a guitar or microphone, doing bizarre comedy bits and singing tunes with interesting lyrics, because….; wait I just said why he scares me.
But in all seriousness, I visit the ‘blog’ often and I probably take for granted the really great music there. So lets kick another mention off in 2009 with a salute to the Breeces.
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