Shape Study: Music for Metamorphoses for fixed media was written at the end of 2008 for the Lewis University Theater Department production of Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses. An adaptation of Ovid’s eponymous narrative poem, this production of Zimmeraman’s play was directed by Dr. Kevin Trudeau. Although the composition is, on one hand, intended to serve as a prelude to the production of this play, it is also hoped that the work stands by itself as an independent electroacoustic composition. 

Structurally, this composition reduces the distances between traditional foreground, middleground, and background musical layers, thus clouding these dimensions. Yet at the same time, this work strives to present a clear and logical dramatic shape by assembling spectral, dynamic, and spatial elements.

More Information: http://bigcomposer.com/data/notes/ea_metamorphoses.html


Shape Study: Music for metamorphoses

ABC Song performed by Henry

An Interrupted Memory was written in 2009-2010 for Lewis University "Art of Memory" Series. All of the sound sources for this work were taken from five recordings, each two-minutes in length. These audio clips were recorded simultaneously at five different locations on the campus of Lewis University in the fall of 2009. An Interrupted Memory attempts to capture and sustain two minutes of the soundscape of Lewis University on that day at that time.

More Information: http://bigcomposer.com/data/notes/anInterruptedMemory.html


An Interrupted Memory

…apprehension of the eternal will was written in 2017.  The title is taken from Rabindranath Tagore’s essay “The Relation of the Individual to the Universe” from Sadhana (1915), and was inspired by his work as well as Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si,” written one hundred years later.  Like Pope Francis’ disquisition, the topic of Tagore’s work is ostensibly a warning about the disconnect between humanity and nature; however, also like Pope Francis’ profound work, Tagore’s essay more covertly confronts the larger topic of humanity’s syzygy to the spirit, to the divine, to the infinite, and to each other.   

In this piano work, there maintains a struggle to find congruence between a prescribed infinite series and an intuitive musical construction. The purpose is not to accentuate differences or examine a relationship built upon isolation, but instead to observe and respect the kinship established by growing with, growing into, and nourishing each other.

...apprehension of the internal will

…apprehension of the eternal will was written in 2017. The title is taken from Rabindranath Tagore’s essay “The Relation of the Individual to the Universe” from Sadhana (1915), and was inspired by his work as well as Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si,” written one hundred years later. Like Pope Francis’ disquisition, the topic of Tagore’s work is ostensibly a warning about the disconnect between humanity and nature; however, also like Pope Francis’ work, Tagore’s essay more covertly confronts the larger topic of humanity’s syzygy to the spirit, to the divine, to the infinite, and to each other.

Throughout this piano work, a struggle exists to find congruence between a prescribed infinite series and an intuitive musical construction. The purpose is not to accentuate differences or examine a relationship built upon isolation, but instead to observe and respect the kinship established by growing with, growing into, and nourishing each other.

Score here:
http://www.redearthpublishing.com/products/index.php?master_action=work&sub_action=Linkshow&workID=1065

...apprehension of the eternal will

360 Steps for fixed media was written for the 2012 Vox Novus “60x60PianoForte” project.  Using only two recorded samples of a Fazioli piano, this composition journeys 360 unique steps from A440 to A# (466.1637hz), or one half step. Just like our traditional tuning system, each “step” is equally weighted; however, this octave is not divided into 12 equal steps, but into 4,320 equal steps.  If this tuning system were realized on an actual piano the entire piano would have 31,320 piano keys.

360Steps

Henry's First Sequence

Mike McFerron is professor of music and composer-in-residence at Lewis University and he is founder and co-director of Electronic Music Midwest (http://www.emmfestival.org). His music can be heard on numerous commercial CDs as well as on his website at http://www.bigcomposer.com.

mike-mcferron

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