On “Howl”

Tags

Al Filreis, Allen Ginsberg, Coursera, Howl, ModPo, soundscape

On “Howl,” an electronic composition by Mark Snyder created from the audio track of the ModPo ’12 lecture video on Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.”  Every sound in the piece is from the video; nothing has been added to the sound.

Solstice

Tags

abstract, music, soundscape

Solstice, composed and performed by Mark Snyder.

Of Darkness

Tags

abstract, aleatoric, bass guitar, electric guitar, granular synthesis, music, poetry, soundscape

Of Darkness (soundscape)

of Darkness,
a frame narrative,
an opera, accidentally
transported to the edge
of powerful condemnation
once experienced,
a masterpiece of grand strategy.

face to face equivalents
of lava cores and frozen runes,
oppressive mysterious framework
on the rain-slick precipice
of apocalyptic elegant whirlwinds,
fictional universes created
for perpetual Darkness.

Vital

Tags

abstract, aleatoric, bass guitar, granular synthesis, Gyorgi Ligeti, Lee County Community Orchestra, micropolyphony, music, soundscape

Vital

An aleatoric soundscape created using granular synthesis.  Inspired by Gyorgy Ligeti’s use of micropolyphony.

Dress rehearsal went well.  We’ve adjusted to the room.  It’s a difficult hall to play in.  It’s very strange- I have never heard a church whose acoustics are so dead- there is no natural reverberation at all.  It sucks all unamplified sound out of the air, which makes playing orchestral instruments difficult, to say the least.  Concert is tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon.

Moonlight

Tags

abstract, aleatoric, baseball, bass guitar, double bass, intuitive composition, Lee County Community Orchestra, music, solo, soundscape

Moonlight

An ambient aleatoric intuitive composition soundscape created by me.

I needed to cut loose after a terrible dress rehearsal tonight with the orchestra.  I was like a pitcher who can’t find the plate and gave up a 5-0 lead in the first inning.  I expected Reinette, the principal bassist, to come out to the mound and send me to the showers- but she’s too kind for that.

It is so frustrating having expectations so much higher than your actual ability on a difficult instrument.  With the double bass, I have to struggle with every bit of minutiae, since I’m a beginner and because it is so difficult to play, especially being self-taught.  The bass guitar comes naturally- I can ask “what can I do to use this creatively?”  Nowhere near that on the double bass yet, and it’s frustrating.

By the way, if you’re in the neighborhood, our concerts are at the Grace Chapel Church on Highway 1 in Tramway (Sanford), NC on Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm.  Admission is free.  C’mon by if you’re not doing anything.

Elegy

Tags

abstract, elegy, granular synthesis, music, Shadows, soundscape, Tibetan singing bowl

Elegy

A soundscape using my voice and a Tibetan singing bowl.

Do’Issusah

Tags

abstract, aleatoric, music, soundscape

Do’Issusah

An aleatoric electronic soundscape.

Tides

Tags

electronic, music, soundscape

Tides

An original electronic soundscape composition.