Closer to Reality

 The Eastside Arts Initiative commissioned a string quartet and its performance at LACSA and YOLA at Torres. It has been a long road getting it finished but the end of the project is near. The original plan was to present the performances then record the composition. But as they say in Zimbabwe, "Shit happens." So on October 15, we recorded the quartet. The performances will now happen on Nov. 10 & 12. Because of COVID restrictions, they will not be open to the public. 

The ensemble is the Koan Quartet. The Koan commissioned my first string quartet, titled You are Responsible, Forever, for What You Have Tamed. You might recognize that title for the piece was inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince. Because shit, in this case COVID, happened, the piece has yet to receive a performance. So it goes. 

But the new piece, titled Juvenile Terrestrial References - Semi-Autonomous Zones, is chugging along for its premiere performance. And the recording is done. More specifically, the recording part is done. It has to be edited and mixed. I'm going to do that this Thursday, Nov. 3. It is going to be one of the more involved post production sessions I've done. Actually I am sure it will be the most involved. I do have another project in the can that will even top this one in terms of post production, but first things first. The quartet played really well and had a refreshing attitude. As usual, Wayne Peet's expertise, crazy ears and musical sensitivity in the engineer's seat made everything flow easily. I think the recording is going to be quite grand. Below you'll find photos of the session.

And below those photos you will find a single shot from an Oktoberfest gig Richárd Bernard's Zeitgeist Polka Band did on the west-side of town. I only include this photo because the light is so hip. It was a small version of the band, a trio. There is something to be said for that. Fewer people to police the tempo for. 

The Beat Goes On...

 Finally a weekend that I don't have to rehearse or perform. The music biz is not all it is cracked up to be. Not that I've been able to relax. I have a lot of work to do. Not the least of which is a piece I've agreed to compose for Michio Yagi and her ensemble - four kotos and clarinet. Kotos are identified by the how many strings they have. Michio's ensemble has a 17, 18, 21 and 25 string koto. That is a lot to deal with. Writing for four kotos is not like writing for a string quartet. I've been dealing with violins, violas and cellos my whole life. Though I wrote a piece for clarinet and three kotos a few years ago, I have to relearn all that sui generis koto stuff. I have a choice of clarinet and/or bass clarinet. Not sure, but I think I'll limit myself to B-flat clarinet. 

Last weekend however, was busy. I did a recording session on Sunday for which I rehearsed on Saturday and the previous Wednesday. The project was for composers Josh Gerowitz, Casey Anderson and Casey Butler. They had a composition each, though Josh's was multi-movement. I enjoyed all of them. The whole experience was great fun. The ensemble was two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, three reeds, percussion, drums, guitar and bass. We recorded at Seahorse Studio, where I recorded with Vijay Anderson a month or two ago. Vinny Golia was on this date as well, like he was on Vijay's. 

The Composers...

Saturday's Rehearsal...

I went shopping at a local African market...

Shots from the session...

Stopped at a market on the way home, saw this sign, but didn't see any avocados.