+ T W O . . .

This is clip of one of Lou Harrison’s sets of tin cans most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the photo above.

This is the first part of a new composition/recording project I am doing in collaboration with Diana Reichenbach.  Diana is an amazing animatic/graphic artist in L.A. and this new collaboration is set to be staged in a dome at some point in 2010.  Stay tuned for more details on that.

Let me know what you think about this first part.  More to come as I continue working…

Here is a clip of another historically important percussion instrument that Lou Harrison often used.  This is one of his sistrums that is most well known for its use in Double Music (a joint work composed by both Harrison and John Cage).  Take a look at the picture posted above.

This is a clip of an old spun-steel brake drum.  The part is likely from a Ford Model-A of the late 1920’s.  I own a set that are shaped and sound exactly like this one.  As I tweeted earlier, this is the Stradivarius of found instruments!

Listen to the length of the decay (I actually mute the drum towards the end of the clip).  Very different from the modern brake drums we are used to playing/hearing…

Here is another clip from my recording session back in May.  This is Travis Jefford’s Gearbox Transmission for marimba, three woodblocks, and a metal object.  It’s a tough work but it comes off nicely.  Again, audiences really enjoyed it during my recent tour.

Travis and a friend created a video to accompany the piece.  It turned out great and I hope to put both on my forthcoming CD.

I spent three afternoons in May recording on the Southwestern University campus.  The first two tracks I completed were recent commissions/collaborations.  Here is a clip from Jonathan Kolm’s new marimba solo Haven.  I played this during my solo tour in April and received a lot of positive response about the work.  Let me know what you think…