N'yet bah bah scree!

I am slowly building up a repertoire of text based performance pieces.

The latest sampling:

Prism

a group of musicians gathers. The players are assigned notes from the harmonic series. A large prism is suspended in the air so that the stage lights shine through the prism on to the stage floor. The prism is periodically turned so that the colors shift. As the prism turns the players play their respective notes as they are revealed by prism. If the player can see his note dimly, he will play soft, if it is clear than he will play loud.

2011 John Dunlap.

I'm working toward releasing a collection of 100 of these.

Pious Patrician Porridge

I just want to take a post to express my extreme joy for being accepted into graduate school. I was really in doubt, and the support of everyone in my life will be remembered for helping me out through out my undergraduate experience.

In short: Thanks everybody!

This weekend I will be appearing at Taste Cafe in Clear Water with Joel Kruger and Scott Smith. It might be a little late for most of you to make it, but make sure and check out the videos we will be posting later.

On that note: Next week we will be playing at Lab Music 3 in Gainesville. If any one wants to ride and out see the show we have exactly one extra seat.

Here is last week's show in all of it's glory:




Thanks to Hal McGee for the upload. Hal is a great asset to the scene here, and we are more than fortunate to know him.

Pernicious Porcupine Squalor

Continuing in the spirit of last week's discovery I found this piece:



This piece has encouraged me to reconsider my feelings about our often abused friend, the glissando. I think I may write a piece that is all glissandi. Madness!

Make sure and check out Michael Levinas. Michael studied with Messiaen, and though his music is often simply described as "spectral" it has unique lilt all Its own.

I've been busy with several new projects including a string quartet, a collection of description pieces, and another lengthy free improv set. Look for video and audio from those projects this weekend.

I'm going to be playing at Lab Music 3 in Gainesville this weekend. This time around the theme is randomly picked duos. If you can't make it out to the Lab this weekend, wish me luck on a good improv partner.

Attack of the Spectral Guitar!

I always feel great when I find a new composer:

http://www.tristanmurail.com/en/

but I'm happier when I find some guitar writing I really love:



I have a major taste for fast guitar, and this really hits the spot, while at the same time being a really well constructed piece of music.  The theatrical flair of tuning the E string down in the middle of playing only adds to the effect.

Up until recently I'd found it hard to track down recent classical guitar pieces I liked. This one is a definite candidate - I'd actually like to learn it when I get a chance.

Evil Idea: Spectral/Flamenco/Jazz Guitar?
is it possible?

Here's another classic that I'd like to tackle someday. I say someday with the same wistful expression that one might say neverland. someday.



and yet another great one - this time Elliot Carter.

February Content Round Up

Sycom did a wonderful show last weekend:







February has been a great month for creative output in general.

Joel and I put out a nice free improv set:

Yeswedohaveyard by giraffebasedempire


Talonscar by giraffebasedempire

Berniehasflatwear by giraffebasedempire


Abcess by giraffebasedempire


Twas a good month indeed.

Inglorious Frontal Structures

Glorious weekend tis' been:  The stockings are large, the trash has a dorsal fin.
       
        Let's start from the start! Just past the weekend's oral sphicter, somewhere around the pharynx,  (read:Saturday) Scott from Nequiem Sonitus stopped by, with theramin in tow, for an all night electro-acoustic jam session with Joel and me.
       There were mouth piece sounds ; There was blood.
      I'm mastering the results of those jams this week, and should have them up in the next three days or so. To tell you the trout-like truth, I'm quite proud of the results.
      Sunday night we went to the INC pre-show at FUBAR in St. Pete. I hadn't been to that venue since it was the now vanquished "uptown bar". The place still retains it's semi-gritty feel, and it seemed more than appropriate for a night of harsh noise. I was glad to see my fellow sycomrade Aaron Hucheson (check out his page - he's got free music!) there playing a suitcase filled with 1/8th inch style analog synth equipment. Of course Nequiem Sonitus played, and I was floored to see them incorporate Ben's Theramin into the set. Scott went the extra mile and spent a good 30 minutes after his set playing around outside in the Nequiem suit. We were amused until the Nequiem pulled out it's mating socket, then we were doubly amused. Whitey Alabastard played a kickin' set as well. I'll put it this way: he was wearing a penguin suit, had two turntables, a contact miked cymbal and a hammer. You do the math! The final act, Radio Shock, stole the show with a green skull that functioned as a photo-cell-Theramin. He also had lots of kitsch toys, and a guitar strap made out of duct tape. Sensational. The guy was nice as could be, and even gave me and Joel tips on our quest to move to New York City. It was a good night. No snails were harmed.
    

Fried Conch-Shell Matress system [SIC]

The partials were broken by a duck call.
but I don't know why.
and captain murdoch wants to heal his steal.

and for.
and to.

but, for a duck, I saw salvation in a guirro.