Listening to The Movies

Why watch a movie if you can’t see the screen? Matthew and his friend Ben take in a Marx Brothers film and showcase the power of a good description. Blind Guy Travels is written and performed by Matthew Shifrin, and produced and sound-designed by Ian Coss. Blind Guy Travels is a production of Radiotopia from PRX and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed debuting limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices. Learn more about Blind Guy Travels and access transcripts at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.

Radiotopia Presents: Blind Guy Travels

https://youtu.be/rI97uTZFghk
https://joshuamastel.com/four-gazes/

four gazes

"I hope this finds you well"
for orchestra 
(2022)

Commissioned by the New York Youth Symphony as part of the First Music program.

2.2.2.2, 4.2.3.1, timp+3 perc, piano, strings

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected humanity in numerous ways; the physical, physiological, mental, psychological, and emotional tolls that the pandemic has created and exacerbated have become great sources of stress and anxiety for many, including myself. While sources of global, substantial, and sustainable healing are difficult to find, I always remind myself and the people in my life
that empathy always endures; we were and are never alone in experiencing the affliction that the pandemic and other calamities inflicted on each of us. I hope this finds you well is a work for orchestra based on a newfound practice in empathy and solace I began shortly after the pandemic ensued; I started composing texts and e-mails to friends, colleagues, mentors, and family with the phrase “I hope this finds you well.” It was (and is) the hope that this phrase, while merely an idiom, would provide some compassion to its reader in a time of tumult. In turn, I hope that this music provides some compassion to its listener in any given time of tumult.

Premiered on 11.20.2022
Carnegie Hall, New York, NY.
New York Youth Symphony
Michael Repper, conductor

This recording is a NYYS rehearsal recording at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York, NY. It is NOT the premiere recording in Carnegie Hall

"I hope this finds you well" for orchestra - (2022)

Sing Bracha Achrona as written for Camp Ramah in the Poconos

Hazzan Joshua Gluckstern-Reiss z"l Bracha Achrona

IG - benchambers

Well it was always going to happen.
I haven't recorded a musical theatre cover in forever but this song wouldn't leave my head and I've been infatuated with Pasek and Paul's work since doing a workshop with them in 2015.
Here is my cover of "Waving Through A Window" from Dear Evan Hansen.

"Waving Through A Window" - Dear Evan Hansen

Adam Sandler is such a huge fan of Hamilton the Musical he decided that the world needed to hear his take.

Track listing:
“Alexander Hamilton”
“Aaron Burr, Sir”
“My Shot”
“The Story of Tonight”
“The Schuyler Sisters”
“Farmer Refuted“
“You’ll Be Back”
“Right Hand Man”
“A Winter’s Ball”
“Helpless”
“Satisfied”
“The Story of Tonight” (Reprise)
“Wait For It”
“Stay Alive”
“Ten Duel Commandments”
“Meet Me Inside”
“That Would Be Enough”
“Guns and Ships” 
“History Has Its Eyes on You”
“Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)”
“What Comes Next?”
“Dear Theodosia"
“Non-Stop”

“What’d I Miss”
“Cabinet Battle #1”
“Take a Break”
“Say No to This”
“The Room Where It Happens”
“Schuyler Defeated”
“Cabinet Battle #2”
“Washington on Your Side”
“One Last Time”
“I Know Him”
“The Adams Administration”
“We Know”
“Hurricane”
“The Reynolds Pamphlet”
“Burn”
“Blow Us All Away”
“Stay Alive” (Reprise)
“It’s Quiet Uptown”
“The Election of 1800”
“Your Obedient Servant”
“Best of Wives and Best of Women”
“The World Was Wide Enough”
“Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”

-------
Recorded and Produced by Pregnantville. 
Vocals by Matt Harbert

*NOTE: None of the original material used in these recordings belongs to us. It is all owned by Lin Manuel Miranda, Hamilton the Musical, and Atlantic Records and we are making absolutely NO money off of its usage. We just want everyone to hear this cool, funny thing we did.

Sandlerton An American Musical

Hamilton If It Was Sung Entirely By Adam Sandler

CONTRASTING MOVEMENTS for Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, Electric Guitar, Double Bass, Piano, and Percussion

Live Performance at 2018 Norfolk New Music Workshop Concert (Norfolk, CT)

Performed by Norfolk Contemporary Ensemble
Perry Roth, Tenor Saxophone
Brian Voelz, Trumpet
YoungKyoung Lee, Percussion
Eli Greenhoe, Electric Guitar
Miles Walter, Piano
Ross Wightman, Double Bass (amplified)

© 2018 Harriet Steinke

Contrasting Movements for Chamber Ensemble

Three Truths - I. Because I adore you,

D-Will, the chase-down block, and other orderly butterflies. is a meditation on causation and retroactive investigation. An eventual trajectory and even the potential presence of trajectory is slowly revealed and immediately taken away once discovered. The piece's form takes shape through a crossfade of specificity and intelligibility leaving both sides arguably ambiguous with a seemingly unpredicted result. In the title's case, we are offered "D-Will" which refers to former NBA player Deron Williams, "the chase-down block" which refers to Lebron James' infamous chase-down block to seal the 2016 NBA Finals, and "other orderly butterflies." which refers to an organized "butterfly effect" and insinuates that both Deron Williams, the player, and Lebron James' block may have also been seemingly inconsequential moments of impact in a larger scheme which greatly affected the resultant league today. I am amazed and obsessed with how these and other obvious or completely unrelated connections coalesce at unexpected awe-inspiring and devastating moments.

To Michael Stern for inspiration, hard work, and concerts.

D-Will, the chase-down block, and other orderly butterflies

pianist, banjoist, composer
PHL → BOS → A2 → PHL
👨‍🎓 NEC | UMich 
💼 TempleU (Boyer) | WCUPA (Wells)

"I hope this finds you well" for orchestra - (2022)

Ari Sussman

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