BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT

Listen: Birth of a Movement.MP3

003/365

Andy

Aptly tagged on the old Gates Rubber building in Denver. I don’t think this will convince them to stop using oil, but I still love socially conscious tagging. I titled this with the idea of using art to impact social or political change. Not something I’m doing right now, but it’s what it made me think of.

Austin

Again, this began with Andy's photo. Something about the nature of its tilt and sort of "off" angle made me feel something visceral, almost violent should be written. So I did sort of a musical rendition of a protest rally. Large drums marshal a crowd of protesters and rioters. Over time, the drums fade, then stop, and the sounds of the crowd gradually fade and distort, drifting away. The crowd gets quieter and quieter until finally disappearing, but in such a way to suggest (hopefully) that at least the message won't die. It will live past the individual rallies.

BIRTH OF PRODUCTIVITY

Listen: Birth of Productivity.MP3

002/365

Andy

It really is 2010 and I am ambitious. I want to be nothing short of productive, prolific even. Coffee should help. Here’s a Domo coffee cup. I’d be lying if I didn’t get a bit of Domo inspiration from Dustin Diaz, whose macro shots I really enjoy.

Austin

This began with Andy's wonderful monster coffee cup shot, and I think helps kick us off very well after yesterday's much more 'thoughtful' and/or 'cerebral' entry. Basically (as with the photo), I'm having a bit of fun. I suppose you could say this piece is a little musical snapshot of a caffeine trip (at least, someone else's ... sadly caffeine long-ago ceased to have that effect on me). This was rendered entirely in my studio using nothing but my own voice (for which I offer apologies).

BIRTH OF ALLOGAMY

Listen: Birth of Allogamy.MP3

001/365

Austin

Here begins what will probably be one of my single most prominent activities for all 2010; an extensive series of photos and music we're calling "Allogamy." There isn't really one particular goal or reason for this project. It is, essentially, a very large experiment. As a composer it is my daily task to try to uncover new ideas, new sounds, new means. The sheer volume of writing required for this project (365 total pieces, with an arbitrarily-predetermined average length of 60 seconds) will mean that I either learn A LOT and grow A LOT, or will otherwise crumble and be ruined as an artist. I can't help but feel a tiny bit like Major Kong riding the bomb out of the sky ....

Basically, each day for the entire 2010 calendar year we will post one photograph by Andrew Berglund, and one piece of music by me. In some cases, he went and took a photo and I studied it, and wrote a piece of music somehow inspired by it. In other cases, I went and wrote a piece of music, and he then reacted with a photo. Still others involve us mutually discussing an idea, and separately going off to capture in it and combining the results.

This first piece is sort of a mirror. It began with Andy's photo of his camera. Appropriate enough ... start with the origin of the next year's work! I decided to write a piece which was essentially about music itself. What resulted is basically a very short trip through the first 12 pitches of the overtone series, the foundation of sound itself.

Andy

Happy New Year and welcome to our 365 Project! I’ve followed/adored/envied several photographers’ 365s in 2009 and decided I wanted to take on my own. I explained the idea to Austin and he saw an opportunity to collaborate creatively, something we have not really done probably since middle school. We were both immediately extremely enthusiastic about the prospect and got to work.

I have a few goals for the year. Like just about anyone who embarks on this journey the big one is artistic growth. Photography is a passion of mine that I all too often leave on the backburner. This is an attempt to remedy that. This being a collaboration, I am also extremely glad to get the opportunity to share an artistic vision. Photography to this point has been very much so a solo sport for me. Getting the chance to make it a more social team exercise is going to be an incredible opportunity.

A brief explanation of the project. I’m taking photos, Austin is writing music. Sometimes in that order, sometimes the other way around, sometimes at the same time. Together they are magic. Because we’re working together this is an atypical photographic 365 in that I’ve started ahead of time (still taking on average a photo a day) but in order to have both together we had to stockpile just a tad. Don’t hate on the method. Also when I get my act together we should be transferring from blogger to Word Press for JavaScript compatibility reasons. Things will get prettier then. Stay tuned. Also look up allogamy, it's one of them sciency words. If you know the word, you'll understand why we chose it.

And finally, the photo. It’s a camera. "Soft focus", glamour shot goodness. Seemed appropriate.

The Phoenix

Listen: The Phoenix.MP3

350/365

Andy

Austin

The phoenix, presumably originally of Greek origins, was the fire bird that has come to symbolize rebirth. It is hope. It's actually a beautiful image when one stops to really think of it, forgetting for a moment the bombardment of pop-culture references to it. A soul transcending the ashes. Today's transcendence comes courtesy of bassoonist and composer Damion Montano.

2 Farewells - # 2

Listen: 2 Farewells - #2.MP3

344/365

Austin

The second farewell is of the more poignant, almost biting variety. Here is a goodbye which actually hurts, but in that way soulful way. Not in some wretched way like a severe tragedy. It's the bittersweet which draws a bit too heavily from bitter. Again written as a multitrack solo cello etude, is also again performed beautifully by Andrew Schulman.


Andy

Infamy

Listen: Infamy.MP3

341/365

Andy

Austin

FDR spoke truly immortal words about this day. Despite a few recent declarations to the contrary, no real equivalent has ever occurred. It would seem very easy to tastelessly address this through music. Hopefully I have not done so. This piece is a chaconne of sorts, pitting a growing wall of angst against the pleading violin of the wondrous and legendary Bruce Dukov.

2 Farewells - # 1

Listen: 2 Farewells - #1.MP3

340/365

Austin

Farewells come in many forms, and with widely varying emotional intensities. For this series I'm contemplating two of the most common (in my life, at least). The first is the farewell tinged, but far from overwhelmed with sadness. However, there is just enough sadness that we can't help but cling on as long as we can (for example, by refusing to finally end the conversation and actually say 'good bye,' something I've been guilty of myself on many occasions). This solo cello etude is performed by the magnificent Andrew Schulman.


Andy