Storytellers - 6

 

Listen: Storytellers - 6.Mp3

151/365

Austin

The sixth and final 'Storyteller' piece. To reiterate, my storytellers are Matt Antonelli, Paul J. Alessi, Stefanie Cowan, Patrick Henthorn, Amin Matalqa and Claire Naber-Matalqa. Today's story has no unifying theme. I merely asked that they tell me the first thing that comes to mind. That lack of overarching theme seemed (in conjunction with having explored older, more Classical / Baroque forms in this series) to thus require the severe sense of order that only Serialism can provide. So, while this is not 100% serialized in the strictest Stockhausen or Boulez sense, it nonetheless is comparably meticulously structured. And it goes to show the immense ability of musical expressiveness to stretch beyond our farthest imagination, because the moment something so literal as this material is put through that filter the emotional impact of the material is all but lost.

Andy
Memorial Day. An important holiday, and I am truly grateful for those who have served our great nation and kept it possible for us all to live our daily lives largely worry free. The Bolder Boulder is also today. I didn't run it. So, with that guilt, I thought I'd go with a running shot. Today's photo sits somewhere between a failure and a mild success in that I did not achieve the image I had in my head, but got a few steps closer and gained some insight into how to better achieve it in the future. I'll probably be returning to this idea...

Sketches 5x5 - 5. Postlude

 

Listen: Sketches 5x5 - 5. Postlude.Mp3

150/365

Austin

The fifth and final movement featuring Alexis Marsh on clarinet, accompanied by flute, bass clarinet, alto sax and soprano sax. A quick and jaunty little closing thought to the series of sketches. It was an unintended irony that a watershed day like 150 be host to such a microburst of music ...

Andy
Ahhh, Memorial Day weekend. The perfect time for a dip in the pool... Closed until next week. What is this? And why is the water green? Maybe just stay closed until you can fix that little problem. Thanks neighborhood.

Storytellers - 5

 

Listen: Storytellers - 5.Mp3

149/365

Austin

Part 5 of the Storyteller series; each of the people were asked about something inspiring in their lives. Something that wakes them up each day; something to aspire towards ... The diversity (as with all the previous stories, though particularly in this case) is quite fascinating. It seemed that amid the chaos, just about anything can inspire someone, if it has the fortune of finding them at that point in their life where they need that inspiration.

Andy
In Colorado, just stepping outside can be inspiration. The state is practically a playground for the outdoors types. And yet, as available as it is to me, I don't often enough take advantage. Even still, when I do go for a hike or even just admire the mountains from afar on a clear day, I am renewed. Ready to return to chasing my aspirations.

Sketches 5x5 - 4. A Pleasant Tune 2

 

Listen: Sketches 5x5 - 4. A Pleasant Tune 2.Mp3

148/365

Austin

Movement 4 of the 5x5 sketches, featuring composer Alexis Marsh (here on alto sax, accompanied by flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and soprano sax). Like movement 2, we offer a pleasant little tune.

Andy
This is my... amazing... technicolor dream... undershirt.

Sketches 5x5 - 3. Fugato

 

Listen: Sketches 5x5 - 3. Fugato.Mp3

147/365

Austin

Movement 3, this time featuring bass clarinet (backed by flute, clarinet, alto sax and soprano sax, all performed by composer Alexis Marsh). There are a handful of jazz-inflected fugues from the repertoire that I absolutely love, in particular by Franz Waxman and Leonard Bernstein. It seemed time to undertake one, even if in the miniature / sketch format ...

Andy
I went with an obvious metaphor for layers and multiplicity here. Better than yesterday's attempt.

Sketches 5x5 - 2. A Pleasant Tune 1

Listen: Sketches 5x5 - 2. A Pleasant Tune 1.Mp3

146/365

Austin

Alexis Marsh returns as the 5x5 performer for movement 2 (featuring today soprano sax backed by flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and alto sax). A simple, pleasant tune.

Andy
Well, in trying to get around my camera's inability to do multiple exposures I've found that I really don't like this method of trying to get around my camera's inability to do multiple exposures. A valuable lesson.

A Holy Day

 

Listen: A Holy Day.Mp3

145/365

Austin

On this day, precisely 33 years ago, the world was suddenly, unexpectedly and gloriously changed. It was a holy day, all the more so in retrospect. This was a day which taught me, among many things, the glory that is solo French Horn (here provided by Brian O'Connor). As a bit of fun remembrance, I offer these etudes on a theme by John Williams.

Andy
This is tough when you're working with micro machine sized Star Wars models. Man am I glad I was able to find those. This took long enough, but I was contemplating using an LED to have the X-Wing firing on the Tie Fighter.