My first improvisations ever…

So I went through my old files and dug up those two files I promised, which hopefully will recall our conversation of what it’s like to just get started with somewhat free improvisation.  This was my way in, through electronics.  Your mileage may vary.  But however you start the journey, it ends up in a beautiful and somewhat magical place.  That much I can promise.  But at the same time, I don’t even want to begin revisiting the weird and scary feelings of just jumping in the water…

Here is a description…

Sometimes I Feel Like an Acetylene Torch (1991)

This was the first one ever… Electric Violin and Roland R8 Drum Machine through Lexicon Processors, controlled with Midi FootPedals.  you’ll hear a little of the concerto player in there…

Asthma (1991)

This is the result of my buddy Michael Lowenstern really setting me into the framework of creating boundaries… “You can only play in your top register, and you got three minutes… GO!”   I went.  sounded like difficulty breathing, so we called it that.

 

Recording Yourself – Links and notes

From Andie Springer’s question about simple, low-impact recording, whether it’s a lecure or recital, or even for field recording…

First, choose whether you’d like to record through your laptop, or through a small hardware device from which you then transfer files from TO your laptop for editing, then follow the links below for software and hardware recording options. To actually see the three reviewed hardware devices, see myself, Evan Z, or Gregg August for a real-time look and feel. (holding these things in your hand matters… ) more after the break. oh, and if you have more to offer, please leave a comment by clicking the comments link! lets get a discussion going in these last days…

 

Rova Saxophone Quartet Book Report, by Eli Asher

Thanks Eli, and thanks Emily, for jumping in in Unwritten Music! (click on the more break below for the whole post)

The other day at Soundpainting Emily mentioned that San Fransisco’s ROVA Saxophone Quartet uses a system of cues to structure their improvisations. While I haven’t found any mention of the specific gestures they use (I haven’t seen them live), on their website Larry Ochs gives a substantial in-depth description of their improvisation piece Radar, here:

http://rova.org/foodforthought/radar.html

ROVA is turning 30 this year, and has been pursuing structured improvisation almost their whole career…

 

Evan is working on Ensemble C uploads

Music uploading now… Evan will post stuff soon…

 

Reg Kehoe & His Marimba Queens – A Study In Brown (from Gregg August)

 

Bang ‘07 Photo Pool being created on Flickr.

This year we’re going to make a photo pool so it is MUCH easier to share photos with each other. The only thing you’ll need to participate is a flickr account

We’ll send you an invitation email to the group straight to your inbox, then all you have to do is upload your pix to flickr, and then click on a button to send them to the group photo pool where people can comment and exchange photos…

If you want to get a head start, then start an account, otherwise, wait for an invitation to join. And then you’ll see lots and lots of photos of your fellow fellowes… like this one…