In addition to being a fascinating composer (e.g. the exuberant microtonal multi-Disklavier opus Hyperchromatica) and a professor of music theory and composition at Bard College, Kyle Gann remains one of the best-known contemporary-music critics, thanks to his writing for the Village Voice from 1986 to 2005. As a writer, Gann has always hadContinue reading “Kyle Gann. The Arithmetic of Listening: Tuning Theory & History for the Impractical Musician.”
Genre Archives
Taylor Brook / TAK Ensemble. Star Maker Fragments.
The British novelist, philosopher, and poet Olaf Stapledon’s 1937 novel Star Maker concerns itself with nothing less than the history of life in the universe. It’s a lot to cover in a little over three hundred pages, much less an hour-long CD, which is why the Edmonton-born composer Taylor Brook keeps his treatment for chamberContinue reading “Taylor Brook / TAK Ensemble. Star Maker Fragments.”
Suddenly Listen Expands its Chamber Space
Trust. Vulnerability. Flexibility. Holistic listening. Non-hierarchical cooperation. Embrace of the unknown. Sense of adventure. These are some of the themes that arise when considering improvised music. If you have ever attended a concert of free-improvised music, you might have experienced that terrifying and exhilarating feeling of unpredictability and risk that stems from listening to musicContinue reading “Suddenly Listen Expands its Chamber Space”
Marc Sabat and the Harmonic Space Orchestra. Gioseffo Zarlino.
The notes that accompany this new release by Berlin-residing Canadian composer and string player Marc Sabat epitomize one of the greatest difficulties around composing in Just Intonation (tuning systems derived from the harmonic series). Though his notes are precise and succinct, it is all too easy for some listeners to be deterred by the description’sContinue reading “Marc Sabat and the Harmonic Space Orchestra. Gioseffo Zarlino.”
Arkora’s Cloud Chamber
Arkora, a Toronto-based electric, vocal, chamber consort, includes an eight-voice choir and an accompanying ensemble, with irresistible composer bait—the Lumiphone. A giant, three-octave, thirty-one-tone, equal-tempered (31-TET) glass marimba, the Lumiphone was designed and constructed by Benton Roark, who cofounded Arkora with Kathleen Allan in Vancouver in 2012. The choir sings in 31-TET harmonies; the electricContinue reading “Arkora’s Cloud Chamber”
Saman Shahi. Breathing in the Shadows.
Iranian-Canadian composer Saman Shahi is full of surprises. He writes music for anything from films to electric guitars, makes rock fusion music, and directs concert bands. On Breathing in the Shadows, his debut album, he pulls yet another compositional style from his massive toolkit in three lucid and dramatic song cycles. Shahi draws from theContinue reading “Saman Shahi. Breathing in the Shadows.”
JunctQín Keyboard Collective. reTHiNK.
On reTHiNK, JunctQín Keyboard Collective presents an eclectic collection of piano compositions new and old that vibrantly showcases their broad range. While this trio, comprising Elaine Lau, Joseph Ferretti, and Stephanie Chua, has been performing together for more than a decade, reTHiNK is their debut album; their unfaltering, polished performance is a testament to yearsContinue reading “JunctQín Keyboard Collective. reTHiNK.”
Luciane Cardassi. Going North.
There is a moment on “Wonder,” the third piece performed by Luciane Cardassi on her new album, Going North, when the Brazilian-Canadian pianist recites a particularly poignant verse: “The soul looks around, hoping to get a glimpse of its origin.” This extract from a poem by Sue Sinclair and set to piano by composer EmilieContinue reading “Luciane Cardassi. Going North.”
The Genre of Morgan-Paige
Morgan-Paige Melbourne was a child prodigy who started playing piano at three and singing and composing shortly afterwards. Soon she was winning piano competitions, and at sixteen she had her first composition published with SOCAN. It looked like she was heading for a glittering career as a concert pianist. But, like so many young BlackContinue reading “The Genre of Morgan-Paige”
Aidan Baker’s Ambient Autonomy
Over the past twenty years, Berlin-based Canadian guitarist and composer Aidan Baker has developed a creative rhythm, using his guitar as a gateway to seemingly disparate sounds and marrying noise, krautrock, metal, drone, and free jazz in thrilling and unexpected ways. Through his workmanlike approach, he has amassed a sprawling discography—the selected discography on hisContinue reading “Aidan Baker’s Ambient Autonomy”