MetaFilter posts tagged with composer

Pulitzer awarded for whispers, sighs, murmurs, and wordless melodies

fremen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:27:19 -0800

Caroline Shaw is a 30 year old composer, violinist, and singer. Yesterday, she also became the youngest person ever, and one of the few women, to receive the Pulitzer Prize for music for her composition Partita for 8 Voices. The work features four baroque inspired movements that were influenced by the violin music of Bach, and yet despite the baroque title, Partita is still thoroughly modern. The Pulitzer jury described it as a "highly polished and inventive a cappella work uniquely embracing speech, whispers, sighs, murmurs, wordless melodies and novel vocal effects." Originally composed for the New York based a cappella ensemble Roomful of Teeth (of which Shaw is also a member), the Partita emphasizes several different vocal traditions from around the world. Roomful of Teeth was founded in 2009 specifically to direct attention to novel non-classical singing techniques with a focus on 21st century composers. They released their first album, including Shaw's Partita, in October, 2012. When not writing music for a cappella, Shaw has also written a number of modern chamber music works, many of which are featured on her website. Some examples of her recent works include:

Punctum - string quartet inspired by Roland Barthes’ book Camera Lucida
Boris Kerner - piece for cello and flower pots, inspired by a book about traffic flow theory
Valencia - string quartet
Taxidermy - percussion quartet

On the lighter side, her Youtube page also features some funny covers of popular music she wrote while waiting out Hurricane Sandy.

You make me dizzy Mr. Mizzy!

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:24:48 -0800

As if a line like "their house is a museum, when people come to see 'em, they really are a scree-am" (heard, of course, in the Addams Family theme) wasn't playfully brilliant (and brilliantly playful) enough, the same fellow happened to also have written the Green Acres theme. If you're an American of a certain age, you'll remember these two songs from their original TV runs during your childhood, or perhaps from reruns if you're a bit younger. Anyway, the composer of these catchy, familiar ditties was one Vic Mizzy. Hear Vic talk about the Addams Family theme and his degree in advanced finger snapping here. Thanks Vic!

"That's how it was done"

Doleful Creature — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:54:06 -0800

Angelo Badalamenti describes the origin of the Twin Peaks theme. [SLYT] The audio to this story was featured previously on the blue in the form of Nicolas Jaar's epic BBC Essential Mix.

Olivier Messiaen's "Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus"

Egg Shen — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:56:40 -0800

To say that Messiaen's Vingt Regards sur L'Enfant-Jesus (Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus) is a masterpiece is a gross understatement. Over sixty years after its composition, it has rightfully earned the recognition of being one of the most important piano works of the 20th century. ... [It] is one of the most personal and intimate pieces Messiaen ever wrote, and it gives the listener a close look at Messiaen the person. Messiaen was a deeply religious person, and although his faith influenced every single piece he wrote, the Vingt Regards is almost like his own personal spiritual diary. - Keith Kerchoff My kind of Christmas music: I. Regard du Père ("Contemplation of the Father") II. Regard de l'étoile ("Contemplation of the star") III. L'échange ("The exchange") IV. Regard de la Vierge ("Contemplation of the Virgin") V. Regard du Fils sur le Fils ("Contemplation of the Son upon the Son") The Pierre-Laurent Aimard performance in these clips seems to be the consensus recommendation - and can be found online in FLAC.

Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen"

Egg Shen — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:05:51 -0800

Next week, for the first time in 22 years, PBS will televise the four dramas of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle on consecutive nights - a rare opportunity to encounter in the manner intended "the most ambitious and most profound work of art ever created". Described by the Metropolitan Opera as the most ambitious production in its 130 year history, this version by Robert Lepage (previously) has received unusually harsh reviews. But then so did the now-classic 1976 Bayreuth centennial production by Patrice Chéreau. The first recorded cycle - completed by Georg Solti in 1965 - has been named in critics polls as the greatest recording of all time and remains the consensus recommendation. Its cast of great voices - including the immortal Birgit Nilsson as Brunnhilde - will certainly never be surpassed. A documentary of its creation can be viewed here (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). A useful guide to the leitmotifs as they occur during the dramas can be found at the outstanding Wagnerheim site. This page contains everything you ever wanted to know - and probably more - about the Wagner tuba. And of course any Wagner post requires a link to Chuck Jones' masterpiece "What's Opera, Doc?"

"I have nothing to say, and I am saying it." John Cage, 9/5/1912 - 8/12/1992

the_bone — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:04:37 -0800

In honor of the 100th birthday of iconoclastic composer John Cage (previously), NPR asked 33 musicians about the effect Cage has had on their art. The Los Angeles Times has a tour of Cage's travels and experiences in his native city. MeFi's own speicus has a long and excellent essay up at newmusicbox.org about the performer-composer relationship Cage shared with pianist David Tudor (who premiered, among other Cage works, 4'33"). And if you've always wanted to play prepared piano and lack an instrument you want to fill with nuts and bolts, there's an app for that.

click-click whirrr, click-bang whirr

the man of twists and turns — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 02:58:23 -0800

"For NOLA-shot 'Looper' soundtrack, composer [Nathan Johnson] relies on the music of munitions." (last two links contain embedded video)

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin

Trurl — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:18:20 -0800

As a tribute to Frédéric Chopin, we take you to the home of Arthur Rubinstein - one of the most distinguished interpreters of his works. Of course that charm was buttressed by the mind of a superb musician, and by the fingers of a spectacular technician. Rubinstein coaxed a big, sonorous, golden tone from the instrument, and his fingers were in total command of anything in his repertoire. And that, paradoxically, was true even when he dropped notes or smudged passages here and there. For it was clear that a sloppy episode resulted not from lack of native ability but rather from sheer scorn of pedanticism. He was daring, he took chances, and if a few notes suffered en route that was unimportant. He was a natural, born to play the piano, and when he was on the concert stage one felt as though the piano itself was welded to his body. Musician and instrument were one. - Harold C. Schoenberg The Nocturnes Op. 9, No. 1 Op. 9, No. 2 Op. 9, No. 3 Op. 15, No. 1 Op. 15, No. 2 Op. 15, No. 3 Op. 27, No. 1 Op. 27, No. 2 Op. 32, No. 1 Op. 32, No. 2 Op. 37, No. 1 Op. 37, No. 2 Op. 48, No. 1 Op. 48, No. 2 Op. 55, No. 1 Op. 55, No. 2 Op. 62, No. 1 Op. 62, No. 2 Op. 72, No. 1

Olivier Messiaen's organ music

Trurl — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:54:16 -0800

The irony in a way is that Messiaen used this great romantic organ for his most modern experiments. For Messiaen, this was a great sort of sonic paintbox, if you like, and he would come here and experiment with the extraordinary sounds that he could conjure out of this amazing instrument. In addition to L'Ascension (1934), Messiaen's major works for the instrument are La Nativité du Seigneur (1935) - whose "Les Anges" can be heard performed by the composer here - Les Corps Glorieux (1939), and Le Livre du Saint Sacrement (1984). Latry's performances in the Deutsche Grammophon 32 CD box set of the complete Messiaen - available by torrent - have received positive reviews. But I find greater profundity in the renditions by British organist Jennifer Bate.

Beyond the Serpent's Grasp

Atreides — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:55:09 -0800

On Sunday, April 29, 2012, composer Joel Goldsmith, son of famous film composer Jerry Goldsmith (Jerry's MeFi Obit Post from 2004), passed away at 54 of cancer. Joel Goldsmith was generally known for his work on MGM Television's Stargate televison shows, primarily Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis (Both based off of the feature film Stargate). Goldsmith's work on both shows resulted in Emmy nominations. Examples of Goldsmith's work:

Lastly, a window into Goldsmith's personality via his greeting at his official site, FreeClyde.

This is my official website. If someone had made an unofficial website about me, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to make this official website. But alas, no one did. I personally like the unofficial websites. They make the subject of the site seem more worthy. Whereas the official sites tend to be slick promotional tools for people to sell their wares and brag. I wish I had an unofficial website. I dislike braggarts, with the exception of a few dear friends of mine who really can't help themselves. I'm also uncomfortable with self-promotion. In fact, I am a rather modest person, magnificently so! So now, you're probably asking, “What’s the deal? Why is "Mister Modest" going to all this trouble to make his "official website"?” Good Question. I have answers! 1. I guess I like the idea that other composers can come here and see the gear I use and how I have my studio set up. We composers LOVE to talk about gear, and we love to keep an eye on what everyone else is using. 2. It’s a terrific way to let my mom know what projects I’m working on. 3. I also think this will be a good place to sell my CD’s and some swag we have so I can buy that Maserati Quattroporte I’ve had my eye on. Did I mention that I was modest and unassuming? Please feel free to purchase all you want. 4. This can be a good forum to answer the question, “Are you Jerry Goldsmith’s son?”. 5. I can also post some recent and/or unreleased compositions so that my fellow composers can listen to them and then talk smack about me! We composers LOVE to talk smack about other composers. 6. It also seems this will be a good place for a producer considering me for a project, to come and see behind the scenes and watch just what really goes on at my studio. (Probably NOT such a great idea). Though this is sounding more and more like one of those promotional sites I despise, I am committed and determined to offer an informative and entertaining website. Your webmaster will be George. At times, (I will put my own two cents in, as I deem necessary. - J.G.). Also be warned, to me, sarcasm is a staple and I consider flights of fancy fair play...I wouldn’t want to bore you. Humbly, Joel

"Everything we do is music."

zarq — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:52:21 -0800

John Cage Unbound, A Living Archive is a multimedia exhibition created by the New York Public Library documenting their collection of videos, original notes and manuscripts of contemporary American composer and music theorist John Cage (1912-1992). "Cage believed that, following his detailed directions, anyone could make music from any kind of instrument" so the NYPL is asking visitors how they would bring his music to life, by submitting videos of their own interpretations of Cage’s work for possible inclusion in the archive. For more extensive collections of John Cage resources, see: WNYC: A John Cage Web Reliquary and Josh Rosen's fan page. Wikipedia's page on him is quite extensive, and notes: "A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde." John Cage Database Here's a nice playlist on Youtube for some of his works, including (of course) 4'33" which was highlighted previously on MeFi.

A Not-Sober Lullaby

flibbertigibbet — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:52:21 -0800

Ron Minis' Not-Sober Lullaby. (SLYT)

Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas

Trurl — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:21:08 -0800

Combining the architectural grace of Bach with the sprightly melodicism of Mozart, the 555 keyboard sonatas (3 MB PDF) of Domenico Scarlatti are a cornucopia of exquisite music*. The first musician to record all of them was the colorful Scott Ross - who died of AIDS-related pneumonia at the age of 38. Here he performs one of the masterpieces, K.209, in Le Château de Maisons-Laffitte on a harpsichord built by David Ley. Distinguished proponents of Scarlatti on piano have included Vladimir Horowitz* and Martha Argerich*. Here guitarist John Williams performs the Sonata in D minor.

John Zorn's "Spillane"

Trurl — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:28:55 -0800

Using his "file card" technique to create the title piece "Spillane" (whereby musical ideas written on note cards form the basis for discreet sound blocks arranged by way of a unifying theme), John Zorn forges an impressionistic narrative out of stretches of live-music jazz, blues, country, lounge, thrash, etc., and a variety of samples and spoken dialogue inspired by Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer detective novels (recited by John Lurie). - AllMusic John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer. He's had experience with a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, classical, extreme metal, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular, and improvised music. - Wikipedia

Carl Ruggles

Trurl — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:29:58 -0800

In 95 years of life, Carl Ruggles composed only 84 minutes of music - including his masterpiece for orchestra, "Sun-Treader". Charles Seeger called it "dissonant counterpoint". Charles Ives called it simply "strong, masculine music". In 1980, Michael Tilson Thomas recorded all of it for a long-out-of-print 2 LP set that has never been reissued on CD. Today, with almost none of the music from this significant American composer commercially available in any form, the Internet Archive has performed a valuable cultural service by hosting a 24-bit lossless rip of the Tilson Thomas set. It is powerful stuff.

Arvo Pärt

Trurl — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:53:27 -0800

[Arvo] Pärt’s mature style was inaugurated in 1976 with a small piano piece, “Für Alina”, that remains one of his best-known works. It is governed by the compositional system that he called “tintinnabuli,” derived from the Latin word for “bells.” The tintinnabuli method pairs each note of the melody with a note that comes from a harmonizing chord, so they ring together with bell-like resonance. "Fratres" "Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten" "Passio"

Straight, No Chaser

flapjax at midnite — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:18:30 -0800

One of America's most idiosyncratic musical geniuses was, of course, the great Thelonious Monk (Wiki), and what better way to celebrate his birthday today than viewing (in its entirety!) an excellent documentary on the man and his music? Straight, No Chaser

Syd Dale, Legend of Library

Trurl — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:11:42 -0800

There is no questioning Syd Dale's [mid-60s UK NSFW] place amongst the legends of library music. ... his lavish big band inspired compositions were quickly brought to the public's attention through their use in countless t.v. shows and advertisements. Much of his work could be as classed as easy listening however Dale was also adept at incorporating elements of funk and spy jazz.* [The music of the 1967 Spider-Man animated TV series - to which he so memorably contributed - has been discussed previously.] He possessed a particular genius for writing memorable melodies that, while often complex, were always designed for the ear to follow. He excelled at marrying them to modern rhythms (usually funk-based), and coupled with his rich, colourful style of orchestration, gave his music a unique and distinctive sound. Whether he was writing a hard-hitting theme for a detective or documentary series, a delicate underscore for a romantic interlude, a period piece or a humorous ‘throwaway’ number, the common factor uniting them all were his lavish, flamboyant arrangements.

Ladies And Gentlemen, The Kronos Quartet

The Whelk — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:29:36 -0800

In their 25 year career San Fransisco-based Kronos Quartet might be most famous for creating the go-to dramatic movie trailer music but they've recently courted controversy with their latest album, 9/11, with Steve Reich (NPR First Listen). The album is another in a long line of collaborations with composers such as Phillip Glass, Terry Riley, and Pēteris Vasks. And like any good instrumental ensemble, they've covered Hendrix, Sigur Ros, and Tom Waits. Oh, and they've been on Sesame Street. Finally, here's some Portlandian tango dancers cutting it up to their track "Mini Skirt"

"Ride of the Valkyries" arranged for 8 pianos

Trurl — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:24:06 -0800

Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" arranged for 8 pianos - performed by Leif Ove Andsnes, Emanuel Ax, Claude Frank, Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, James Levine, Mikhail Pletnev, and Staffan Scheja. "What's Opera, Doc?" with live orchestra

Joseph Brooks

mkultra — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:32:05 -0800

Joseph Brooks was a writer of commercial jingles in the 60's. He went on to write and direct the film You Light Up My Life in 1977; the film was a critical flop but a commercial success, and the title song went on to win an Oscar and become an adult contemporary standard. He later wrote the book and music for, and direct the stage musical In My Life (nyt), which flopped famously in 2005 amidst reactions of bewilderment. In 2009, he was indicted on charges(nyt) of luring at least 11 actresses across the country to his Manhattan apartment and raping them. He was found dead yesterday of a suicide while awaiting trial.

Music From Nowhere

wcfields — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:17:37 -0800

Since the late '70s, Gordon Monahan has been making a career of extracting the unheard from pretty much anything he can get his hands on. Monahan's works for piano, loudspeakers, video, kinetic sculpture, and computer-controlled sound environments span various genres from avant-garde concert music to multi-media installation and sound art. Such pieces include long string installations activated by wind (Long Aeolian Piano, 1984-88), by water vortices (Aquaeolian Whirlpool, 1990) and by indoor air draughts (Spontaneously Harmonious in Certain Kinds of Weather, 1996). His work for electronic tone generators and human speaker swingers (Speaker Swinging, 1982), is a hybrid of science, music, and performance art, where minimalistic trance music based on the Doppler Effect contrasts with issues central to performance art such as physical struggle and 'implied threat'. John Cage once said, "At the piano, Gordon Monahan produces sounds we haven't heard before." Viewing the loudspeaker as a discrete instrument for generating or 'representing' music, Monahan has constructed a loudspeaker catapult (A Magnet That Speaks Also Attracts, 1986) and a series of 'imitation' loudspeaker installations (Music From Nowhere, 1989). During the 1990's he developed an ensemble of multi-functional computer-controlled sound-machines which undergo various transformations in performance and installation environments. In Sounds and the Machines That Make Them (1994), a computer controls the actions of a network of machine sculptures built from electronic surplus and industrial trash, which generate complex layers of acoustically produced sounds. In Multiple Machine Matrix (1996-98), a remote-controlled robot enters this environment and pretends to learn how to perform and behave on a public stage. Monahan created an interactive mechanical sound installation for the Sony Center in Berlin (Silicon Lagoon, 2000), and has developed installations using computer-controlled water drops falling upon amplified objects (When it Rains, 2000/Theremin in the Rain, 2005). Recent works include multi-channel sound installations (A Very Large Vinyl LP Constructed in Acoustic Space, 2007), Theremin Pendulum, a chaotic theremin installation (2008), and Gamelan Klavier (2009), a composition for gamelan and prepared piano.

Recording the Star Wars Saga

Joe Beese — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:00:28 -0800

Recording the Star Wars Saga (1 MB PDF) An exploration of the obsessively crafted fan-edition soundtracks might begin with the Imperial Audiophile Edition of The Empire Strikes Back.

Paul Bowles

Joe Beese — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:32:15 -0800

Paul Bowles - "novelist, composer, poet and quintessential outsider of American literature".

RIP Milton Babbitt

MisterMo — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:35:53 -0800

Milton Babbitt, the quintessential american academic composer, died Saturday. Whatever you think of his music, he was one of the most significant composers of new music in the second half of the twentieth century. Over his long and influential academic career, Babbitt wrote a ton of very carefully engineered and complex serial music, seeking to achieve rational impact on his listeners even before a visceral connection. He was an advocate for using formal theory as the basis for musical composition. There are those (myself among them) who would would say that one unintended consequence of his sometimes numbingly intellectual music was to save many young composers from pursuing academic "specialized music" as a career. Yet he certainly wrote beautiful and captivating music, and by all accounts, he had a great sense of humor. He will be remembered.