side-scroller (2021) is inspired by “death music” in 2D platform video games (platformers). When a player loses or “dies” in a video game, often specific music will play, indicating to the player they have failed. Death music in early platformers often had upbeat descending melodic lines underlaid with triadic harmonies. In side-scroller’s opening phrases, failed jumps can be heard followed by death music. The piece chronicles a player’s progress through a game world. There’s extra health to be found. Secret passageways to be discovered. And a boss fight! Plus, a little “game over” sequence at the end.

"side-scroller" performed by JACK Quartet

​Commissioned and performed by Anna Elder 
Virtual Premier: 06-21-2020 through Experimental Sound Studios in Chicago, IL. Hosted by Omaha Under the Radar

(https://www.undertheradaromaha.com)
​Live Premier: 06-06-2020 at Re:sound 2020 for CUSP, at The BOP STOP in Cleveland, OH. (Postponed due to Covid-19).

Selection for SEAMUS 2021 Album

Additional performances: 

04-15-2021, Oh My Ears Festival 
SEAMUS, 04-24-2021
Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project, 06-032021
​NMOP, Date 06-08-2021 
SICPP, Date 06-25-2021
Splice, 07-02-2021
CIME-ICEM, 09-18-2021

Succubus (2020)

William Fields composes captivating abstract electronics through generative algorithmic processes.

'Chirality' is out November 12th on Great Curve.

Pre-order: bit.ly/3CJWp02

@greatcurverecords

Premiere: William Fields - Don't Panic [Great Curve]

recorded on iPhone, 1960's Phillips electric organ

short improvisation

Composed for a string quartet with live electronics, "December" was written for The JACK Quartet in 2011. The piece was also nominated for the Gaudeamus 2012 Prize and performed by Berlin based Sonar Quartett on September 5th, 2012 in Utrecht.

The compositional focus lies on complex spatial structures, in which each instrument can send signals to another via transducers that are attached to the body of the instruments. Based on the idea of instruments being "the speakers", feedbacks are created at various degrees throughout the piece. These feedbacks, along with the signals that are diffused via transducers, are integral part of the spectral harmonies / transformations, for they either highlight or cancel out certain partials of the created spectra in the piece.

The music is dedicated to the leftist prisoners who lost their lives in Operation Back to Life (Hayata Donus Operasyonu) on December 19th, 2000. The operation was conducted by Turkish government to end the ongoing hunger strike in which the prisoners demanded to stop the shift towards to a new cell system, the F-Type, that is a type of cell system where accommodation equals to complete isolation of a political prisoner. 

As a result, more than 30 prisoners (101 according to non-state related sources) lost their lives. More tan 1000 political prisoners were transferred to F-Type cells afterwards. 

According to the official reports, more than 400 people, who are currently released, have been suffering from perpetual injuries by means of both mental and physical.

Today, the government still rejects the responsibility of the resultant deaths, as some of the officers who were involved in the operation have been promoted.

Reviews & Articles: 

[Radikal, in Turkish]
http://www.radikal.com.tr/kultur/yaylilar_icin_hayata_donus_operasyonu-1070928
[Sight Listen, in English]
http://sightlisten.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/turgut-erc%CC%A7etin-string-quartet-no-1-december/
[GonzoCircus, in Dutch]
http://www.gonzocircus.com/sonar-quartet-bij-gaudeamus-verklanken-van-ruimte/
[BachTrack, in English]
http://bachtrack.com/review-jack-quartet-apr-2014
[SF Gate, in English]
http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Sweet-Thunder-review-intriguing-electro-acoustic-5430517.php

Online score by Incipitsify (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aH7edsRW8s)

String Quartet No.1 "December"

Brownshirts Long Set EABD

103120, 11.45 AM (watching a line cross the sky)

This is what love sounds like to me

Vox and live processed electronics
Composed by Brian Riordan 
https://www.brianriordanmusic.com/
Commissioned and performed by Anna Elder

Succubus by Brian Riordan

A poem about an ecological accident worsened by rich kids littering.

Jake Sentgeorge, vocals
Brian Riordan, electronics and mastering.

This track is a setting a poem by Taneum Bambrick (used by permission)https://www.taneumbambrick.com

Elk-Splat

Selection of compositions and improvisations from Brian Riordan.
http://www.brianriordanmusic.com

Succubus (2020)

Brian Riordan

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