tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62771665637822844932009-10-22T02:16:56.992+11:00Sound Filenoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-37970375670640235102009-07-13T14:43:00.003+10:002009-07-13T20:06:28.088+10:00

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-5377890071364346022009-04-03T22:41:00.014+11:002009-04-04T00:44:21.397+11:00

We presented a piece today at University using composer and performer indeterminacy.Casey, Tom and I created the score, then interpreted it (freely and using instruments in unconventional ways). Although “easy” at first glance, there are a whole range of problems to be dealt with in coming up with “chance music”, not dissimilar to the problems encountered composing in general. Questions of

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-12105612944045222112009-04-01T00:16:00.003+11:002009-04-01T00:23:39.681+11:00

• Maranatha Christian School (Endeavour Hills, Victoria) Year 7Click here (or right click to save) to hear the work (mp3 file/3:02/2.8MB)_

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-61992329954785908592009-03-24T22:51:00.004+11:002009-03-24T23:06:01.562+11:00

Cool new groove from the MegaSoundOperators featuring artists from Bethal Primary School!!Click here (or right click to save) to hear the work (mp3 file/2:40/2.5MB)_____

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-28443307558712137492009-03-18T22:48:00.008+11:002009-03-18T23:22:44.399+11:00

Note: these posts will be soon be migrated to a new blog dedicated to this material alone. New links, including detailed information about the project, photographs, as well as a greater capacity to interact and contribute will be made public very soon. Stay tuned!We are a team of 5 musicians working for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Education and Community Outreach Program.Our aim is to

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-28643166464000058022009-02-01T23:41:00.014+11:002009-02-02T00:10:44.080+11:00

The closing credits music from the soundtrack (by Mark Isham) of Cool World (1992)The drumming by Terry Bozzio is extraordinary.I was lucky enough to play on this session (in Munich); the film might not have done so well but the music is excellent.

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-75982146151559174772009-01-18T12:36:00.009+11:002009-01-18T18:10:56.635+11:00

silence = violenceWent down to the playground near the beach yesterday and happened to see a bit of junior cricket (under-14s?) at the oval.I saw two dismissals. The first boy came off the field and threw his bat 3 metres, swearing, and ripped his pads and helmet off. The second (soon after) smashed the stumps over with his bat, and did the same performance off the field. Nobody did or said

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-56083107155783194232009-01-14T22:02:00.018+11:002009-01-18T16:52:52.278+11:00

This isn't directly related to the "noise, sound, music" debate, but is worth passing on.I recently changed internet providers, because despite not changing browsing habits, my uploads (which are metered with Telstra) started sky-rocketing. In a day of normal internet use, we were racking up 300 - 500MB of uploads! Doing nothing much except checking/sending email, and the odd youtube clip. No

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-1714373850098072592009-01-12T11:04:00.013+11:002009-01-15T00:14:48.306+11:00

Here's a quote from a wonderful book I'm reading at the moment The Rest Is Noise by Alex Ross.Schoenberg (around the time of his early atonal works) in a letter to Alma Mahler: listen for "colours, noises, lights, sounds, movements, glances, gestures".*

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-42357539354758765312008-12-29T13:21:00.004+11:002009-01-18T18:17:46.857+11:00

Posts will begin again with vigour in January.*

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-18178940922454104302008-11-13T20:54:00.021+11:002009-01-15T00:43:41.305+11:00

Elliott Carter is, I believe, the first "famous" composer who has composed a piece for his own centenary.The Astra Chamber Music Society in Melbourne is putting on a concert a few days before his actual birthday featuring the Brass Quintet (Program Note - pdf download), written in 1974.ECQTristram Williams (trumpet)Mark Skillington (trumpet)Geoff Lierse (french horn)Bob Collins (trombone)Charles

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-47838132842400462662008-10-31T20:51:00.018+11:002009-01-18T16:48:27.337+11:00

Practicing in a virtual worldI couldn't play for almost a week because of some unexpected neck problems (spasm of the sternocleidomastoid muscle). One of the host of doctors and physios I saw, who has dealt with musicians before, said that practice can be just as effectively continued without actually playing.She said I was to stand or sit, use the metronome (or whatever props), and spend time

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-78834069806665496022008-09-15T22:02:00.005+10:002009-01-12T12:10:45.881+11:00

DemonstrationInspecting the hornsJam #1The girlsJam #2Close up #1Blowing!

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-17219431275159316622008-09-02T21:44:00.007+10:002009-01-14T22:45:50.983+11:00

SOUND with guests Michael Kieran Harvey and Kanako OkamotoTuesday 23rd September 12:00 - 1:30 in Room 113 VCAFirst reading and discussion of new work for trombone, electric bass, and piano.Charles MacInnes (trombone)Jeremy Aslop (electric bass)Michael Kieran Harvey (piano)Kanako Okamoto (composer)SOUND was formed in 2006 by Charles MacInnes (trombone) and Jeremy Alsop (electric bass guitar). We

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-34359829212712186072008-09-01T21:57:00.007+10:002009-01-15T00:18:13.327+11:00

A Sudanese woman, Ajak Kwai, descendent of the Dinka Bor people from the south, graced the Mother of God Primary School in Ardeer with her presence courtesy of The Song Room. A singer and storyteller, she danced, laughed, lectured, drummed and sang the children far away, to a place where Kororoit Creek flows into the White Nile.Some Sudanese mothers timidly watched as their children joined the

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-28392186534597354092008-08-19T21:42:00.013+10:002009-01-16T10:43:36.336+11:00

Wasn't quite sure what to do with my young Song Room students the other day. I showed them some scores from Stockhausen, Wagner, Bach, and Ligeti. Talked a little bit about symbols which could indicate different musical parameters without going too much into specifics.Then I played them 6 or 7 bits of music of all sorts of styles. They listened and drew.After they had finished I went through the

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-44139094705392731842008-08-06T23:11:00.014+10:002009-01-12T12:16:56.903+11:00

Workshop progressAm four weeks into trying out my new "noise sound music" program. The school has 80-odd children all up. Things haven't been as easy as I thought, but there have been some successes.Week 1 "Our Space" - lying on the floor, listening to all ambient noise, copying what we heard, recording everyone's name, sending them home with the task of listening out for interesting sounds.Week

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-2240604319264026912008-07-01T16:11:00.009+10:002009-01-15T00:21:11.099+11:00

My main "blog writing" time has been occupied with theatre work (here's a clip) for the past few months. In the gaps (and during the show!), I've been putting together workshop materials which I am going to begin presenting for The Song Room among others. I am working on 20+ different titles under the broad heading of "noise sound music".The challenges I have set myself:(1) no music "theory" or

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-26426894230423547142008-03-07T11:08:00.012+11:002009-01-12T12:11:16.491+11:00

The revised version of the book is ready.It includes the warm up, sample routine, advanced scale library in all keys, as well as the suggested reading list.Coil bound copies printed on good quality paper are available. Contact me via the comments section for price and information about ordering.

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-60795363998638059632008-03-02T14:57:00.004+11:002008-03-02T16:20:25.472+11:00

Not once but twice....Dropped everyone off at the St Kilda farmers' market, went back to the car to discover that the keys were in the ignition and all doors were locked. S borrowed some barbecue tongs from the Veg Out communal garden next door and managed to squeeze them through the partially open passenger side window.Then I went to run some errands, came back an hour or so later. Parked in the

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-41320499109388732902008-02-21T23:22:00.010+11:002009-01-14T22:48:14.691+11:00

or the Susato Sandwich?Have just returned from playing a 10-piece brass gig for the MSO which farewelled the Queen Victoria from the Melbourne wharf.You know how certain club owners have to be asked a couple of times to switch the house music off because, like, the band is back on stage? Well, we had that on a large scale tonight. We were getting stuck into the hits of the English brass eighties

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-49740133765024621792008-02-21T23:15:00.003+11:002008-02-22T00:15:15.398+11:00

Michael B and I are planning to put an entirely new book together incorporating all this scale stuff and more, and in greater detail. We plan to have this ready by halfway through the year.In the meantime, I'll post slightly revised pages from last year's edition as soon as I can chop them up and save them for downloading etc. Please be patient - it's a slow job using a free blog, and a free

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-62536594543729324782008-02-06T19:13:00.002+11:002009-01-12T11:19:00.755+11:00

Rediscover The StereoBought a beautiful 1980s Luxman CD player at Savers for $17. Got the Harman/Kardon amplifier repaired, dusted off the Danish speakers, found the old Monster interlink and speaker cable.Beautiful warmth, incredible clarity.Conclusion:Computer CD players sound bad, and MP3 should only be used if music merely serves as cheap sunglasses for the ears.

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-63202507745741406242008-02-04T01:06:00.000+11:002008-02-08T10:08:37.309+11:00

I've lost a dear friend and colleague through sudden and awful circumstances. The press are highlighting all the wrong things.Thank you LE for everything you did for me in Hamburg. This is an end of an era. I'm glad your death was that of a rock star, though, and not a retiree.

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277166563782284493.post-7809162384573007832008-01-29T20:20:00.002+11:002008-09-09T20:16:42.754+10:00

Here are the scales and chords! In this post you will find all keys in the introductory format.Each key is a separate downloadable PDF file - and each consists of two A4 pages.(note: they will be added progressively as I finish them. Treble clef versions coming soon. See subsequent post for advanced scales)Enjoy them; work slowly and carefully. There's no hurry.Any questions please let me know :-

Sound Filenoreply@blogger.com0