May 30, 2008
listen
Boiling -- Boil"ing\, a. Heated to the point of bubbling; heaving with bubbles; in tumultuous agitation, as boiling liquid; surging; seething; swelling with heat, ardor, or passion.
Boiling point, the temperature at which a fluid is converted into vapor, with the phenomena of ebullition. This is different for different liquids, and for the same liquid under different pressures. For water, at the level of the sea, barometer 30 in., it is 212 [deg] Fahrenheit; for alcohol, 172.96[deg]; for ether, 94.8[deg]; for mercury, about 675[deg]. The boiling point of water is lowered one degree Fahrenheit for about 550 feet of ascent above the level of the sea.
[ courtesy of dictionary.com ]
Boiling -- Boil"ing\, a. Heated to the point of bubbling; heaving with bubbles; in tumultuous agitation, as boiling liquid; surging; seething; swelling with heat, ardor, or passion.
Boiling point, the temperature at which a fluid is converted into vapor, with the phenomena of ebullition. This is different for different liquids, and for the same liquid under different pressures. For water, at the level of the sea, barometer 30 in., it is 212 [deg] Fahrenheit; for alcohol, 172.96[deg]; for ether, 94.8[deg]; for mercury, about 675[deg]. The boiling point of water is lowered one degree Fahrenheit for about 550 feet of ascent above the level of the sea.
[ courtesy of dictionary.com ]
Labels: generative, MaxMSP, process, synthesis
May 19, 2008
listen
Rhythm -- Tonight I found myself thinking about a piece I wrote in 2004 called The Rhythm Variations. It's a series of variations on George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm for solo piano. It occurred to me that this 60x365 is not my first exploration of short forms. One variation lasts only 20 seconds.
So I pulled out that variation (cleverly titled The Shortest Variation) and made three quick recordings of it. These are heard back-to-back over a collage from another piano recording of mine. Enjoy.
(If you are interested, you can see a score and read more about The Rhythm Variations here.
Rhythm -- Tonight I found myself thinking about a piece I wrote in 2004 called The Rhythm Variations. It's a series of variations on George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm for solo piano. It occurred to me that this 60x365 is not my first exploration of short forms. One variation lasts only 20 seconds.
So I pulled out that variation (cleverly titled The Shortest Variation) and made three quick recordings of it. These are heard back-to-back over a collage from another piano recording of mine. Enjoy.
(If you are interested, you can see a score and read more about The Rhythm Variations here.
April 28, 2008
listen
Untitled -- no really, there's no title today, only these processed lawnmower sounds...
Untitled -- no really, there's no title today, only these processed lawnmower sounds...
Labels: acousmatic, musique_concrete, process
March 31, 2008
listen
James Brown + Max/MSP + feedback delay = Brownian Noise
(not to be confused with this)
James Brown + Max/MSP + feedback delay = Brownian Noise
(not to be confused with this)
Labels: MaxMSP, plunderphonic, process
March 27, 2008
listen
Political Buzz -- Isn't it odd the way words lose meaning when heard again and again?
Political Buzz -- Isn't it odd the way words lose meaning when heard again and again?
Labels: george_w_bush, musique_concrete, process
March 25, 2008
listen
So Far - I had intended to make a special piece when there were only 100 days left (similar to my celebration of 100 days), but I lost track and missed it by two days. So today, lets listen back to the first 267 pieces...in alphabetical order.
So Far - I had intended to make a special piece when there were only 100 days left (similar to my celebration of 100 days), but I lost track and missed it by two days. So today, lets listen back to the first 267 pieces...in alphabetical order.
March 22, 2008
listen
60x60 Redux -- One of the original inspirations for this podcast was Robert Voisey's 60x60 project. Each year he puts out a call for one minute compositions, which he sorts through to build a playlist of sixty pieces. These are presented without interruption as a continuous one-hour block of music. I've participated twice in the past [bsym5.1 and Here, I'll Play It Again].
The deadline for this year's submissions in fast approaching, so I made this piece as a little tribute to 60x60. I used one second from each of the tracks on the 2003 60x60 CD, available for sale here.
60x60 Redux -- One of the original inspirations for this podcast was Robert Voisey's 60x60 project. Each year he puts out a call for one minute compositions, which he sorts through to build a playlist of sixty pieces. These are presented without interruption as a continuous one-hour block of music. I've participated twice in the past [bsym5.1 and Here, I'll Play It Again].
The deadline for this year's submissions in fast approaching, so I made this piece as a little tribute to 60x60. I used one second from each of the tracks on the 2003 60x60 CD, available for sale here.
Labels: 60x60, plunderphonic, process
March 18, 2008
listen
Play Me -- So I played a little game for today's piece. I made seven little samples. I placed them one at a time into my timeline. Every time I placed a piece I would listen and then could adjust it _or_ the previous piece, but not both. I was also allowed to copy and paste a group of several pieces, but one pasted these could not be moved. Essentially the idea was to plan ahead as best as I could since I was only allowing myself to make very small revisions.
Enjoy the results.
Play Me -- So I played a little game for today's piece. I made seven little samples. I placed them one at a time into my timeline. Every time I placed a piece I would listen and then could adjust it _or_ the previous piece, but not both. I was also allowed to copy and paste a group of several pieces, but one pasted these could not be moved. Essentially the idea was to plan ahead as best as I could since I was only allowing myself to make very small revisions.
Enjoy the results.
Labels: plunderphonic, process
March 10, 2008
listen
Watery -- Well, it finally happened... I missed a day. Damn. Traveling yesterday after a long weekend made it slip my mind until i was drifting off to sleep last night. Oh well, today I must compose two minutes to catch back up.
The first re-uses a water sample that I first explored a couple of weeks ago. Today though, I have subjected it to the kind of manipulations I usually reserve for beat-based samples.
Watery -- Well, it finally happened... I missed a day. Damn. Traveling yesterday after a long weekend made it slip my mind until i was drifting off to sleep last night. Oh well, today I must compose two minutes to catch back up.
The first re-uses a water sample that I first explored a couple of weeks ago. Today though, I have subjected it to the kind of manipulations I usually reserve for beat-based samples.
Labels: ambient, musique_concrete, process
March 1, 2008
listen
Lions and Lambs - 60x365 enters March, and we all know that old saying.
sample attributions:
20070407.lambs.kids.WAV by dobroide
Lions Roar at Lincoln Park Zoo.wav by Terwelp
Lions and Lambs - 60x365 enters March, and we all know that old saying.
sample attributions:
20070407.lambs.kids.WAV by dobroide
Lions Roar at Lincoln Park Zoo.wav by Terwelp
Labels: freesound, loop, musique_concrete, process
February 15, 2008
listen
Riots is this week's danceaday.com collaboration with Boris Willis. He is dancing this week at 14th and U (in Washington DC) where the riots broke out after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Boris noted that "In my lifetime the street has exploded in racial tension and now has White people soliciting votes for to elect a Black president."
This week's sound is built from one small sample of a speech by King.
Riots is this week's danceaday.com collaboration with Boris Willis. He is dancing this week at 14th and U (in Washington DC) where the riots broke out after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Boris noted that "In my lifetime the street has exploded in racial tension and now has White people soliciting votes for to elect a Black president."
This week's sound is built from one small sample of a speech by King.
Labels: dance-a-day, glitch, process
February 12, 2008
listen
Chatter - a quick tribute to a classic electro-acoustic composition... it could go on for a lot longer than a minute too.
Chatter - a quick tribute to a classic electro-acoustic composition... it could go on for a lot longer than a minute too.
Labels: MaxMSP, musique_concrete, process
January 23, 2008
listen
Techno~ Redux -- Today is another etude exploring the techno~ object in MaxMSP.
Basically, the techno~ object is a very accurate sequencer (with a couple of its own quirky additions) that allows easy synchronization with other versions of itself . Today's piece takes advantage of this fact by creating a series of gradually changing loops, one divided into 7 parts (the high notes) and the other divided into 11 parts (the bass notes).
Techno~ Redux -- Today is another etude exploring the techno~ object in MaxMSP.
Basically, the techno~ object is a very accurate sequencer (with a couple of its own quirky additions) that allows easy synchronization with other versions of itself . Today's piece takes advantage of this fact by creating a series of gradually changing loops, one divided into 7 parts (the high notes) and the other divided into 11 parts (the bass notes).
January 22, 2008
listen
Techno~ -- Today's piece is an etude made using MaxMSP. For those unfamiliar with this software, it consists of many virtual objects which are connected by virtual patch chords. Each object has a specific function, sometimes simple and other times complex. There are so many different objects that it takes years to learn them all (if ever!)
For today I decided to figure out an object called "techno~". Something about it has always intimidated me a little bit, but no more...I am beginning to understand exactly what it can do. Enjoy.
Techno~ -- Today's piece is an etude made using MaxMSP. For those unfamiliar with this software, it consists of many virtual objects which are connected by virtual patch chords. Each object has a specific function, sometimes simple and other times complex. There are so many different objects that it takes years to learn them all (if ever!)
For today I decided to figure out an object called "techno~". Something about it has always intimidated me a little bit, but no more...I am beginning to understand exactly what it can do. Enjoy.
January 13, 2008
listen
Hard Chord - the opening chord from The Beatles A Hard Day's Night is one of those sounds recognizable in any context.
Hard Chord - the opening chord from The Beatles A Hard Day's Night is one of those sounds recognizable in any context.
Labels: plunderphonic, process
December 14, 2007
listen
twenty five celebrates my 25th danceaday.com collaboration with Boris Willis. We decided to emulate the collaborative process of John Cage and Merce Cunningham. We each created our own part separately, only combining them at the end. Any resulting correspondences in sound and movement are pure serendipity.
There are 25 sound segments of various lengths, arranged randomly. Some are repeated. Some are filtered using randomly selected filters with random parameter settings.
(For those of you anxiously awaiting more Christmas cheer, I will resume my 12 part holiday series on Sunday.)
[12.25.07: Boris has made another video using this music, check it out.]
twenty five celebrates my 25th danceaday.com collaboration with Boris Willis. We decided to emulate the collaborative process of John Cage and Merce Cunningham. We each created our own part separately, only combining them at the end. Any resulting correspondences in sound and movement are pure serendipity.
There are 25 sound segments of various lengths, arranged randomly. Some are repeated. Some are filtered using randomly selected filters with random parameter settings.
(For those of you anxiously awaiting more Christmas cheer, I will resume my 12 part holiday series on Sunday.)
[12.25.07: Boris has made another video using this music, check it out.]
Labels: dance-a-day, musique_concrete, process
November 28, 2007
listen
Variations is a suggestion from composer Jay C Batzner of the Unsafe Bull Podcast. I have created 5-second variations on twelve previous posts. There are four different variation "formulas" present, each applied to three different pieces. The results are arranged chronologically according to each pieces orignal posting. If you want to listen to the originals again, they are:
Variations is a suggestion from composer Jay C Batzner of the Unsafe Bull Podcast. I have created 5-second variations on twelve previous posts. There are four different variation "formulas" present, each applied to three different pieces. The results are arranged chronologically according to each pieces orignal posting. If you want to listen to the originals again, they are:
November 25, 2007
listen
*N C is today's listener suggested piece, courtesy of my father, Paul. He said:
While thinking about this idea, I had one of those strange brain moments I occasionally have. I realized the similarity in sound of the words "In C" and the name of the erstwhile boy-band *N Sync. So I sampled their voices and transformed them into a one-minute rendition of the Terry Riley piece. (To do this, I only worked my way through the first five segments of the piece. One for each member of the band...)
*N C is today's listener suggested piece, courtesy of my father, Paul. He said:
It's not for a composition, but for a performance. Terry Riley's In C is someone keeping time by playing the two highest C's on a piano, and any number of other musicians moving thru the score coming in, leaving, repeating their current snippet, etc.
My idea is sample something other than a piano playing a couple of very high C's (or two things or a bunch of things), and loop it into a 60-second background track. Then, you perform your interpretation of the score using whatever instrument you can play or simulate.
You probably can't get through all 53 of the snippets once in 60 seconds. So you might have to take liberties in skipping a few in order to repeat others.
While thinking about this idea, I had one of those strange brain moments I occasionally have. I realized the similarity in sound of the words "In C" and the name of the erstwhile boy-band *N Sync. So I sampled their voices and transformed them into a one-minute rendition of the Terry Riley piece. (To do this, I only worked my way through the first five segments of the piece. One for each member of the band...)
Labels: ambient, plunderphonic, process
November 11, 2007
listen
Gauge -- Last Tuesday, a review of this podcast appeared on Lime & Violet's Daily Chum. In it, Michelle compares my process of daily creation to knitting gauge swatches:
She also wondered what a piece about knitting might sound like. Today's piece provides one answer to that question. I found this pattern and translated the stitches to sound. There are just two stitches here, the knit and the purl. Each one was assigned two short sounds, these were then paired (knit-purl) to represent two different yarns (not part of the pattern, but it makes the result more interesting to hear.)
Each row has 15 stitches / sounds in it. Row 1 plays. Then row two is added and both play. Then Row three is added and all play. Et cetera. Eventually the rows begin to drop out so that the texture retains some clarity. Enjoy.
Gauge -- Last Tuesday, a review of this podcast appeared on Lime & Violet's Daily Chum. In it, Michelle compares my process of daily creation to knitting gauge swatches:
We can learn a lot from a gauge swatch. We can:see the behavior of a yarn under a given set of circumstances;
change those circumstances in order to impose change on the fabric;
satisfy all sorts of curiosities and Ôø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡what ifsÔø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡;
use our observations to plan an entire project;
decide what we thought might work? Just. WonÔø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡t. Work.
Such is the beauty of the gauge swatch. And such is the beauty of David MorneauÔø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡s current project, 60 x 365. Since July, heÔø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡s been composing one 60-second electronic piece per day - the ultimate exercise in musical gauge swatching.
She also wondered what a piece about knitting might sound like. Today's piece provides one answer to that question. I found this pattern and translated the stitches to sound. There are just two stitches here, the knit and the purl. Each one was assigned two short sounds, these were then paired (knit-purl) to represent two different yarns (not part of the pattern, but it makes the result more interesting to hear.)
Each row has 15 stitches / sounds in it. Row 1 plays. Then row two is added and both play. Then Row three is added and all play. Et cetera. Eventually the rows begin to drop out so that the texture retains some clarity. Enjoy.
October 8, 2007
listen
100th -- Today is my 100th minute. To celebrate I took equal parts of the first 99 songs (600 milliseconds each) and arranged them in chronological order. Those of you keeping score will notice that this brings the total length to 59.4 seconds. Since this project is 60x365 and not 59.4x365 I took those 99 slices and compressed them into an additional single 600 millisecond burst. This was added the the end, making for a 60 second recap of my first 100 minutes. Enjoy.
(By the way, the idea of using parts from each previous post came from my wife, JoLayne. This gives me a chance to remind everybody that November will be "Listener Appreciation Month". For that entire month I will be making pieces based on listener suggestions. If have an idea that you'd like me to try, send it along...)
100th -- Today is my 100th minute. To celebrate I took equal parts of the first 99 songs (600 milliseconds each) and arranged them in chronological order. Those of you keeping score will notice that this brings the total length to 59.4 seconds. Since this project is 60x365 and not 59.4x365 I took those 99 slices and compressed them into an additional single 600 millisecond burst. This was added the the end, making for a 60 second recap of my first 100 minutes. Enjoy.
(By the way, the idea of using parts from each previous post came from my wife, JoLayne. This gives me a chance to remind everybody that November will be "Listener Appreciation Month". For that entire month I will be making pieces based on listener suggestions. If have an idea that you'd like me to try, send it along...)
Labels: collage, plunderphonic, process
October 3, 2007
listen
Speed - I'm working on a piece that elongates an existing piece of music via a predetermined repetition of notes and phrases over time. The repetition scheme is, by itself, not particularly interesting. The effect it has on the music extended by it is quite enchanting (I'm deliberately leaving the details of the scheme out of this post, sorry.)
However, what was a 1.5 minute song ends up extending for over 40 minutes. To compemsate for this I am experimenting with different tempos. As I push the tempo upwards to 500 beats-per-minute, the individual notes begin to blur together. At this tempo the total length is now closer to 14 minutes (still on the longish side). As I sat contemplating this problem I decided to see if I could make it last only a single minute. At 6600 bpm I made it happen.
Today's post is this one-minute version. When the longer version is finished, I will post it as a bonus track...
Speed - I'm working on a piece that elongates an existing piece of music via a predetermined repetition of notes and phrases over time. The repetition scheme is, by itself, not particularly interesting. The effect it has on the music extended by it is quite enchanting (I'm deliberately leaving the details of the scheme out of this post, sorry.)
However, what was a 1.5 minute song ends up extending for over 40 minutes. To compemsate for this I am experimenting with different tempos. As I push the tempo upwards to 500 beats-per-minute, the individual notes begin to blur together. At this tempo the total length is now closer to 14 minutes (still on the longish side). As I sat contemplating this problem I decided to see if I could make it last only a single minute. At 6600 bpm I made it happen.
Today's post is this one-minute version. When the longer version is finished, I will post it as a bonus track...
September 30, 2007
listen
Scrambled reprocesses Norman Cook's Wonderful Night using MaxMSP. Enjoy.
Scrambled reprocesses Norman Cook's Wonderful Night using MaxMSP. Enjoy.
Labels: MaxMSP, plunderphonic, process
September 27, 2007
listen
RoundRound - I've been listening to The Who Boy's mash-up album Tales of Townsend & Wilson a lot lately. It inspired me to find this old Beach Boys track for today's minute.
RoundRound - I've been listening to The Who Boy's mash-up album Tales of Townsend & Wilson a lot lately. It inspired me to find this old Beach Boys track for today's minute.
Labels: loop, plunderphonic, process
July 30, 2007
listen
Unsafe Bull is a tribute to Alvin Lucier's experimental classic, I Am Sitting In a Room. I used a short sample of composer Jay C Batzner saying "unsafe bull" (also the name of his podcast). This sample was compressed using QuickTime's Qualcomm PureVoice setting. The resulting file was compressed again in the same way. This process repeated 14 times, each version becoming more distorted. The different versions (original and 14 compressed) are heard in sequence.
If you haven't ever experienced I Am Sitting In a Room, you really should find a free hour and give it a listen. Also, check out Jay C Batzner's Unsafe Bull Podcast.
Unsafe Bull is a tribute to Alvin Lucier's experimental classic, I Am Sitting In a Room. I used a short sample of composer Jay C Batzner saying "unsafe bull" (also the name of his podcast). This sample was compressed using QuickTime's Qualcomm PureVoice setting. The resulting file was compressed again in the same way. This process repeated 14 times, each version becoming more distorted. The different versions (original and 14 compressed) are heard in sequence.
If you haven't ever experienced I Am Sitting In a Room, you really should find a free hour and give it a listen. Also, check out Jay C Batzner's Unsafe Bull Podcast.
Labels: collage, musique_concrete, process, unsafe_bull
links to 60x365
- NPR interview
- New Music Box interview
- Spark Festival Review
- Networked Music Review (1)
- Networked Music Review (2)
- OSU Arts Blog
- Great Dance
- Eine Kleine Yarnmusik (1)
- Eine Kleine Yarnmusik (2)
- We Are All Mozart
other sites of interest
- Dance-A-Day
- Unsafe Bull Podcast
- Vox Novus' 60x60 Project
- We Are All Mozart
- x365
- Some Assembly Required
- Networked Music Review
- Thing-A-Day
