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Showing posts from 2016

Palette de Couleur et de Lumiere

Palette de Couleur et de Lumiere The concept of a palette of instrumental colour and timbre is derived from deepest aesthetic principles of the work.    The choice of instruments are essential to the colouristic balance of the work. Glockenspiel                                              Vibraphone Bongos                                                      Congas Tom-toms                                                  Bass drum Small shaker                                              Tambourine Whistles                                                    Blowers                                      Piano Flute/Alto Flute                                         Clarinet/Bass Clarinet With the piano as the mediator, the opportunity for balanced and contrasting exploration of instrumental colour are great.    For example; Woodwind The two types of combinations are demonstrated below.    The first is cross-species representation where there is

Flute Sonatine 1st Movement

The Flute Sonatine came at the height of my obsession with the works of Pierre Boulez. In 1947, he wrote a Flute Sonatine for piano and flute as a result of a suggestion by his then teacher, RenĂ©  Leibowitz . with whom he was later to have a notorious falling out. "With a red pen, [Rene] Leibowitz began marking up the manuscript [to Boulez's first sonata], then dedicated to him. Grabbing the score, Boulez fled, shouting at Leibowitz "vous etes de la merde!" Three years later, Boulez's publisher Herve' Dugadin asked him if the dedication should remain on the printed score. As Boulez shouted "Non!" he stabbed the manuscript with a letter opener until it was virtually in shreads."  His Sonatine fuses together the two waring factions of Stravinsky and Schoenberg in terms of rhythm and harmony. It is described by David Schiff as, releasing in the sonatina an explosion of musical violence, nervousness, and instability. My Flute Sonatine,

Sounds Like Now

Earlier, I supported this project... "I don't normally do this but I think it is significant enough project to put my backing behind it. Dan Goren, formally of the BMIC, is creating a magazine for contemporary music with the curious title, "Sounds Like Now"(What does the word 'like' mean?).  The intention, I believe, is to showcase, educate and promote the best of British contemporary music.  At the moment, he is close to reaching his goal of £18,000  to get the project running. He needs your support.  His project can be found here:  sounds-like-now " It reached its goal of £18,000 and should have been completed. But can anyone tell me what is happening now? Update...I have spotted them. They are here: https://www.soundslikenow.net/my-listening-xenia-pestova/ I was wondering...How are they going to get more subscribers if they don't allow new viewers full access to their articles?

US Presidential 2016 candidate, Ted Cruz, announces tritone ban.

As the US elections approach, let's reflect on a curious proposal from one of the 2016 presidential candidates, Ted Cruz. In an unusual stance, he suggested banning the tritone due to its alleged satanic association. This idea may strike some as reminiscent of medieval thinking, considering the tritone's historical association with the "devil in music." While such views might seem outdated in modern times, it serves as a reminder that diverse perspectives and beliefs can influence even political discourse. As we navigate the upcoming elections, let's cherish the open exchange of ideas while keeping an eye on progress and inclusivity in our society. “A pair of tones separated by three consecutive whole steps may at first seem perfectly harmless,” Cruz said, “but when played together or in melodic succession they pose a direct threat to the moral fabric of our great nation.” For more information please read this article.