A set of dialogue tapes on the relationship between Music & Nature, performance practice, and the liberation of musical thought...

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE, a new way of looking at Music, Poetry & Dance, based on movement

IMAGE: Small whitewater snowmelt stream, close to where this talk was recorded. The South WALLOWAS, OREGON.

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... Cliff-crego – Intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

The pieces I refer to are here:

(1)StarCYCLE DUO project: alpha PYXIS, for two pianos https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/sets/starcycle-duo-project-alpha

(2)StarCYCLE DUO project, ARA, for vibraphone & marimba https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/sets/starcycle-duo-project-ara-for

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 10 “Nature, Culture & Movement in Space”

IMAGE: Summer Solstice under smoke-filled skies, at 2200 meters, Whitebark pine country, Eagle Cap Wilderness, OREGON.

DIALOGUE CIRCLE tape, in five parts, with six musical interpolations:

(1) ARA, for vibes & marimba… (6) ELTANIN, for two timpanists

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 11 “Learning to learn. Listening to listening”

MUSIC heard is from my Star CYCLE DUO projects, alpha PYXIS & ELTANIN, both on Soundcloud…

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 13 “All at once & one at a time”

For essential background:  “THE PHILOSOPHER’S LYRE, a thought poem…” on #Vimeo https://vimeo.com/846062002 

More essential background THOUGHT THE TRICKSTER, 3 miniatures . . . von Cliff Crego https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/failure-of-education-mp3

Also Relevant to this DIALOGUR CIRCLE IS: Stream Retronyms - Notation: a set of 2 miniatures, w/ Mt. Toad chorus von Cliff Crego | Kostenlos online auf SoundCloud anhören https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/two-metaphysical-miniatures

IMAGE! Self-portrait, Arnold Schônberg, around 1925 or the same time of two of the pieces I discuss, Opus  25 & Igor Stravinsky, the piano sonata…

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE  “The simplicty / Complexity Cycle poster is at, http://picture-poems.com/pdfs/aporia-simplexity-compilcatedness.jpeg

Poster I mention for UNDERSTANDING THE SHAPE OF CHANGE is here: http://picture-poems.com/photoweek/poster_shape-of-change.html

Here is LYNN MARGULIS …Architects & Engineers For 9 11 Truth - Lynn Margulis Interveiw - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKt1RZsamQ8&pp=ygUsTHlubiBtYXJndWxpcyAgOS8xMSBhcmNoaXRlY3RzIGFuZCBlbmdpbmVlcnM%3D

First in COMPLICATEDNESS, or meaningless difficulty: Brian Ferneyhough: String Quartet No. 6 (2010) (with score) - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIUE4w4ftcc&pp=ygUbQnJpYW4gZmVybmV5aG91Z2ggNiBxdWFydGV0

Example of simple-mindedness of MINIMALISM, as well as the pure sentimental propaganda of false narrative concerning 9/11 is here: Steve Reich: WTC 9/11 / performed live by Cuarteto Quiroga - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49h2zUKEts&pp=ygUfU3RldmUgcmVpY2ggOS8xMSBzdHJpbmcgcXVhcnRldA%3D%3D

Listening back, the word missing in this DIALOGUE TAPE is ‘imbalance,” Too bad. Next time…. What is remarkable, I think, is that all we need to sense the inherent imbalance of the maximalism of COMPLICATEDNESS, or of the simple-mindedness of MINIMALISM, is listen with the UNDERSTANDING THE SHAPE OF CHANGE poster in hand. In every single case, you will hear that the moved of complementarity has been broken apart, smashed by bad ideas. Like focusing on one side. Silence, instead of sound/silence cycling back in forth in a breathing circle. Constant Hyper-density that sounds like reinforced concrete. Constant repetitive rhythms as if we have forgotten the contrasting steps of life’s dance.

CIRCLE/SQUARE no. 14 “Aporia, the Simplexity Cycle & Complicatedness”

Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts http://bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf http://bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

INTRO: UNDERSTANDING THE SHAPE OF CHANGE, a new musical paradigm based on movement

This is a little improvised dialogue circle tape on improvisation. What makes this recording a bit different is that it’s intended mostly for those who tune in regularly to my New Music, Poetry & Dance performance project, THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE. It includes quite a bit a natural sound which, up here on wilderness’ edge where I’m doing photography climate crisis fieldwork at the moment, the calls of Mother Earth are pretty much always a part of our recordings. A few Flickers are featured. No, these are not any of my Dutch friends singing along in Amsterdam’s Gay Pride parade, but, Norther Flickers (Colaptes auratus), a wonderful resident species of woodpecker here at HEARTBREAK MEADOW basecamp. 

And my good friend, Simone de HAAN, puts in a brief 3-fold appearance as well, with that wonderfully resonant sound of his, recorded at St. Paul’s Church in Freo, Australia, some 15,000km away from where I now sit. Distance. A sign of these uncertain times, yes, yet vibrant with such spectacular new opportunity. Distance...yes, I can’t thinking of my little basecamp village in the Alps, and the wonderful sounds of Alpine Horns, Not the Hollywood secondhand cliché, but the real thing, the true instrument, made of real Sprucewood, filling up an entire valley with its sound.

As I mention in the introduction to the dialogue, the theme of improvisation is approached negatively, that is, entirely by addressing what improvisation IS NOT, in my view. So we’re looking at improvisation from the widest possible circles possible, those of philosophy & consciousness.

IMAGE: April Glacier Lilies (Erythronium grandiforum), right now. These are some of the most beautiful and wildly abundant of what are called “spring ephemerals.” They appear directly after snowmelt. They are perennial. They are highly edible. Not a survival food, but think more of a fine salad at a five star French restaurant in Paris. One of Mother Earth’s most delicate improvisations...

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 1, “On Improvisation,”  w/ Simone de HAAN on “Alpine horn”

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_12-concepts.html Or download as pdf here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_12-concepts.pdf

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

THE RECORDING OF Edgard Varèse quoted in the dialogue tape is on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/ionization-crego-conducts-var

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 2, “On Difference, “ w/ Simone de HAAN, trombone

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is here cs-music.com/features/cards/pos…r_12-concepts.html Or download as pdf here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_12-concepts.pdf

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... Cliff-crego – Intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

THE RECORDING OF Edgard Varèse quoted in the dialogue tape is on Soundcloud Cliff-crego – Ionization-crego-conducts-var

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 3, “On Difference, part II,” w/ Simone de HAAN, trombone

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... Cliff-crego – Intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

THE RECORDING OF Edgard Varèse quoted in the dialogue tape is on Soundcloud Cliff-crego – Ionization-crego-conducts-var

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 4, “On Difference, part III” w/ Simone de HAAN, trombone

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

THE RECORDING OF Edgard Varèse quoted in the dialogue tape is on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/ionization-crego-conducts-var

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 5, “On Movement, part I”

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

THE RECORDING OF Edgard Varèse quoted in the dialogue tape is on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/ionization-crego-conducts-var

THE RECORDING of the SWALLOW CLAVIER, w/ links to music https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/ridge-crossing-x-on-the-edge

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here http://cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 6, “On Movement, part II”

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

SEE ALSO an INTRO to the shape of change... Cliff-crego – Intro-understanding-the-shape-of-change-12-primary-concepts

THE RECORDING OF Edgard Varèse quoted in the dialogue tape is on Soundcloud Cliff-crego – Ionization-crego-conducts-var

THE RECORDING of the SWALLOW CLAVIER, w/ links to music Cliff-crego – Ridge-crossing-x-on-the-edge

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE, no. 7, “On Dialogue,” w/ Simone de HAAN, trombone

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 8, “On Complementarity”

THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE no. 9, “Synchronous / Asynchronous Cycles of Movement”

THE POSTER I refer to in the dialogue tape is Understanding the Shape of Change: 12 Primary Concepts bit.ly/1Lo5vQE pdf bit.ly/1ESMhhx Music, Poetry & Dance as movement...

IMAGE: The COMPLEMENTARITY POSTER top right is here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.html Or download pdf here cs-music.com/features/cards/poster_difference.pdf

THE SHAPE OF CHANGE: Intro to the 2nd season of theoretical talks...”On Maps & Movement”

IMAGE: HAWTHORNS leafing out in mountain spring at 1420 meters, OREGON

THE ART OF LISTENING no. 1: music, nature, philosophy & new awareness

IMAGE: Where this talk was recorded, doing climate crisis fieldwork, South WALLOWAS, OREGON, at 2200 meters...

The soundpoem we listen to in the middle of the INTRO is THINKING LIKE A STONE Is at https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/cage-prepared-stonepin-m4a

The STONEPINE SONATA project, with a violin to be made of whitebark pine wood, harvested right here where I am recording perhaps, is at https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/stonepine-sonata-for-violin-piano-allegro-nightmusic-for-young-performers

INTRO: The MIMOS horn quartet, pantomime & dance project...

Composer. Writer. Photographer. Former conductor & founder of the ASKO ensemble.

On a bike/ski/hike trek of the Pacific Northwest studying native plants & climate breakdown 🌲 from sagebrush sea to whitebark pine. Composing off-grid the whole way.

#Sun2Sound 🌕 on Bluesky

THINKING LIKE A STONEPINE, a soundpoem manifesto https://vimeo.com/844665859

“LOVE & WATER, three thought poems w/ coda, PHAROS for small orchestra, “Nightwind”” https://vimeo.com/847079690 

CURRENTLY on mt bike/ski/climbing trek through Pacific Northwest, working on a photobook about WHITEBARK PINE COLLAPSE and CLIMATE CRISIS. BASES in the WALLOWAS | AMSTERDAM | ALPS. 

WEEKLY photo/poetry updates at www.picture-poems.com & THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE new music, poetry & dance performance project at www.cs-music.com

ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for progressive, tech-savy, instrumental virtuosi interested in dialogue & collaborative undertakings.

CONTACT cliff@picture-opoems.com
Or on SKYPE or FACETIME @cliffcrego

MUSIC? The one thing humans do,
that makes the rest of nature jealous.