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 mean you no harm (2020-2021) for mixed chamber ensemble

Premiered on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti, MI.

Emily Ji, clarinet
Jeremy Howell, alto saxophone / Tibetan Singing Bowls
Reed Puleo, percussion
Celia van den Bogert, harp
Karalyn Schubring, piano
Alex Anest, guitar
Kaitlyn Walker, viola
Helen LaGrand, cello
Stephen Castiglione, double bass
Alexia Benson, soprano
Pelagia Pamel, alto
Nicholas Music, tenor
Grey Grant, bass

Audio/Video Recording by Solid Sound Recording Company 
Ann Arbor, MI. 
Lisa Tar and Eric Wojahn, engineers

"I mean you no harm" is a work for mixed chamber ensemble (cl, asax, perc, hp, pno, gtr, vla, vlc, db, SATB choir) composed with the intent of alleviating stress and down-regulating the sympathetic nervous system based on studies and research at the intersection of music, neurology, and meditation and healing. In this work, I focus on utilizing and applying proven techniques for healing such as binaural beating and auditory entrainment while amplifying the healing power of extra-musical experiences such as those available to us in the natural world and in mystical and spiritual practices such as Kabbalah and meditation. I attempt to accomplish this by means of the use of timbre, pulse, atmosphere, and the manipulation of the overtone series to create a meditative and healing sonic space.
Some of the Jewish teachings I have embraced since my childhood, such as caring for and loving the earth and performing acts of loving-kindness, are exemplified in the teachings and actions of Kabbalah and those who practice it. One of the fundamental questions of Kabbalah is how can we each properly attune ourselves to the earth, to Havayah (the Great Existence), to the S’firot (emanations of Havayah between the physical and metaphysical realms), and to each other. While the answers lay deeply within each of us and scattered throughout the universe, I aspire that this work might help us each attune to each other, to the depths of the universe, and to our own selves.
While the “standard” unit of time measurement in a piece of classical music is beats per minute within a given time signature, the unit of time measurement in this work is in seconds as dictated by synchronous stopwatches for each performer in the ensemble. The work is to be performed sans conductor; each sonic event will act as a cue for the subsequent sound in the score. The performers are to be distanced and spatialized in individual groupings within the physical space for performance by instrument family. This lends the opportunity to re-figure the role of “concert-goer” as that of “meditator/participant” with agency over individual experience. Each individual has the freedom to discover which individual performer or group of timbres generated by the ensemble resonate best within them, and to move freely throughout the space. It is my utmost hope that in these current treacherous times of uncertainty or any perilous moments we may endure in the future, that this work be a catharsis and a release for anyone who participates, meditates, or listens.

I mean you no harm - mixed chamber ensemble - (2021)

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 mean you no harm - mixed chamber ensemble - (2021)

Ari Sussman

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