Beautiful composition and performance, and a wonderful tribute to your friend. I don't think I have ever heard an ebow used on piano strings before. I have one, and use it on occasion with my guitar. It surprises me it is strong enough to affect piano strings.

Ein sehr schönes Stück! Excellent, ausdrucksstark und sehr gefühlvoll gespielt ... eine Lebensgeschichte in Noten ...

....The delicacy of a fawn's hoof or a missed smile in the opening bars;  followed by resentfulness.    Frustration, alienation.   Then bliss.  (My sophomoric assessment.  As though music should ever be assessed... Very beautiful Dika.).ric

I, I don't need a sign
To protest what you're doing
To protest what you're doing
Is that alright? I'm not your kind
Cause' I, I don't follow blind
The faith in what you're leading
The faith in what you're leading
It has died, crucified, oh...
-------------------------------------------------------
Enter nothingness, throw it all away
Face of emptiness, need some regime change
So complacent with all the thoughts you keep
In too deep with this self indulging way
-------------------------------------------------------
Hide from all your lies
It's bullshit what you're saying
It's bullshit what you're saying
in my eyes you're not right
Mirror your disguise, breaking glass today
All along this time, you've been in my way
-------------------------------------------------------
Enter nothingness, throw it all away
Face of emptiness, need some regime change
So complacent with all the thoughts you keep
In too deep with this self indulging way

PROTEST

VIDEO https://youtu.be/FDjNav6gvLw

"un-controlling" for cello, piano and two ebows composed by Dika Chartoff (ASCAP 2022) 

Dave Eggar, cello
Clare Longendyke, piano
Christian Amonson, recording engineer
Louis Ng, recording engineer

In memory and celebration of my friend Ben who was a wonderful friend to so many; amazing son, brother and father; a passionate surfer and sailor who lost his life to suicide after a long battle with depression.

During the opening, characterized as Poetico quasi senza mesura (poetic and unmeasured), the e-bow is used as an ostinato - a constant sound triggered by a magnet that vibrates the piano strings. Essentially, it’s a noise that’s calming and seductive at times, but much like depression, or tinnitus, it’s an unwelcome guest. The second part, giocoso (lively and humorous), is an innocent and technical interlude that culminates in climbing adrenaline; such as surfing a giant wave. Finally, Lento Irrealmente (slow and surreal) is a free fall of reverberating, vibrations and letting go. The e-bow is not present at that moment and perhaps a sense of hope, is restored.

un-controlling

Ghosts In Naples (Neapolitan lullaby)

This one reflects the incredible experience of visiting Peru, thanks to all my good friends in LIma! Enjoy.

Nazca Reveries.WAV

raise a glass to the roar of the city
pouring concrete into your fists
the wind in its tunnels can lift the
vain & the hungry, the gentle, the gritty
who fall for its kiss

escape the humdrum
come play & be someone
your portrait in hectic
dreams sizzle electrically
word is out on the street
prayer's crowding the basements
sea of prodigal faces
rocked by shuffling feet

raise your mast for the squall of the city
swelling circuits of angular mist
the trains in its bowels can fit the
homeless & hopeful, the heartless, the needy
who pay for its kiss
(pay down the rent on its kiss)

complete the long-drawn
defeat of your hometown
the traffic caresses
all six of your senses
you breathe
the mass of the steeply
stacked office spaces
they brace for renaissance
lives will bend to their beat!

think fast on the clock of the city
crack some skulls for the room to exist
don't wait for its edges to nip the
grapes that you came for
only grow in the city
and drink from its kiss

Support Gom

Roar of the City

This is a fun dance songs with a lot of Arabic adlibs to bring this song to life. Special thanks to Tom. Horner, Khalednk, and Vinicius for their work on this project. Turn it up, and Stomp.

Blue Stomp

Guitars, Bass And Keys By Robert Grigg.
Drums By Yamaha Keyboard.
https://youtu.be/YSVuA7X4n0k?si=rMhc8MzPxUzu7QN4

The Ghost Walk

Guitarist Hank Rusch releases the first song from his much anticipated new album entitled Along The Mississippi. It is a bonafide rocker.  Hank's growly voice imparts the lyrics, with a great recurring guitar riff following each line, eighth notes hammering away, a killer lead guitar solo with Hank playing with the abandon of an animal loosed from its cage....He's long gone and out of sight.

GOOD BAD AND BLUE
By Hank Rusch

My lady left to today she left a note on the table
We're diggin' lots of trench but we ain't got no cable
The boss is breathin' down my neck he wants us to work faster
but with half the crew missin' it's a big disaster

My buddy saw her cheatin' but I played it cool
but now it's official so I guess I'm a fool
We're short on supplies and I'm the last man standin'
But I'll keep on pushin'
cause that's what lifes' demandin'

Well, I work just hard enough to feel good
But not enough to make it right like I should
My hearts' gettin' heavy but I'm gonna get through
Just livin' this life of good bad and blue

I'm the only man I know who ain't got a bad back
But today I slipped my sacroiliac
Still, the ladies don't mind I guess I still got my charm
I walk in the place with two on my arm

The weekend's comin' I can finally kick back
But the boss wants more hustle I ain't feelin' that
Heart's heavy with memories, I don't know what to do
Just livin' this life of good bad and blue

The weekend's here I can kick back and breathe
My boss keeps on pushin' it's hard to believe 
Heart's heavy with echoes of what we once knew
Just livin' this life of good bad and blue

Well, the more I work the further I'm back
I'm chasin' my tail like a crazy cat
I'm pourin' my sweat but my paychecks are light
I'm gonna keep on keepin' on and fight the good fight

The weekend's here I can kick back and breathe
My boss keeps on pushin' it's hard to believe 
Heart's heavy with echoes of what we once knew
Just livin' this life of good bad and blue
Just livin' this life of good bad and blue
Just livin' this life of good bad, 
good bad, good bad, and blue

Along The Mississippi

Good Bad and Blue

Buy Now

The Biz

Woodnight

Big Bugs Bee

Big Bugs Bee 2020 - 01 - 02

“I don't remember my dreams too much. I hardly have ever gotten ideas from nighttime dreams. But I love daydreaming and dream logic and the way dreams go” - David Lynch
​
I love to express stories through music and explore the visceral space that surrounds them. Sometimes I’m interested in creating sound collages, or tapestries of sound that are varied in their nature but unified in their aesthetic aim. Other times I surrender to something lyrical. Most of the time, I feel compelled to make sense of the world, which is impossible. But, after some work, which includes frustration, and occasional eureka moments, I find deep meaning and satisfaction in my music, especially as I near the finish line and embark on a collaborative journey with fellow creatives. 

www.dikachartoff.com

un-controlling

Dika Chartoff

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