6/28–6/29/2012 at the Salvage Vanguard Theater, Austin , TX (ticketed)
Choreographers Christine Bergeron and Carisa Armstrong worked with me to create a set of four brief pieces, each one minute long, on the central theme “Deck:” Deck of Cards, Decked Out, Hit the Deck, and Wooden Deck. Continue reading
This work explores the technology of the horn. Since it is a mature acoustic instrument, we tend to overlook the artificial structures it imposes on the way we think about making music with it. Also, musical conventions lead horn players to struggle against the natural tendencies of the instrument, e.g., to force notes to be what we consider to be “in tune.” In its earlier forms, the horn had no valves Continue reading
We had some fun with the sound design for the TAMU mainstage production of Prelude to a Kiss directed by Anne Quackenbush. In addition to using music from TAMU alumni band The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (some of which was recorded in our own studio), the music for the new age wedding ceremony is an algorithmic composition featuring Theatre Arts and Music student J.J. Ceniceros. We called the project Pomegranate Aspiration. Continue reading
PerfTech students presented new compositions for live electronics with a 3D surround sound system in TAMU’s Fallout Theatre. The concert featured a performance by the TAMU Laptet, TAMU’s freshman laptop ensemble, one by guest artist Ivica Ico Bukvic (Virginia Tech). Continue reading
Students and faculty met to discuss the notion of evil in music, from Paganini to Robert Johnson to the Rolling Stones to death metal. It was a great mixing of minds at all levels of academia to reflect on deeper issues between popular and classical music.
Research Embodied, a site-specific intermedia performance created for the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library with designer Autum Casey was selected as a finalist from 70 international submissions, performed on October 19, 2011, and awarded third prize in the Music in Architecture—Architecture in Music symposium in Austin, Texas.
Research Embodied, a site-specific intermedia performance and installation created for the Great Hall of the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum (Austin, Texas) was awarded Third Prize in the Music in Architecture—Architecture in Music International Symposium It was one of five finalists chosen from 74 entries (6.8% acceptance rate), from among international and Ivy League competitors. And it was performed by our students!
Flutist Mariana Gariazzo premiered Afterimages for bass flute and live electronics.
PerfTech students got hands-on experience performing classic electroacoustic literature by spatializing the recorded works live in a 11.2 channel, 3D surround sound system using a multitouch interface in TAMU’s Fallout Theatre.
PerfTech students presented intermedia performances in TAMU’s Fallout Theatre.
Professor Morris led his students in devising a performance titled Soccer Mom, which played on giallo horror film, using everyday experiences to generate a chilling musical score and sound effects. Students made sounds by preparing dinner (spaghetti and a cocktail for dad), using a power drill, and a Nintendo Wii Remote embedded in a soccer ball. Offstage performers controlled the processing of the video footage and chose pitches to be played each time our “boy” on stage hit the soccer ball. Other students contributed by preparing the vintage lo-fi looking projections.
Another notable performance was Black Hole for audio and video feedback. One student’s instrument was a microphone running through guitar effects pedals and a guitar amp, and the other student performed with a video camera focused on the projected image from its output, in addition to various light sources. The result was a surprisingly rich and organic performance.