Flute Beatboxing Experiments (TidalCycles)

Performed by Khemia Ensemble
Text from the short story "Never the Hero" by Sean Williamson

Sean Williamson’s “Never the Hero” was recently awarded the Hamlin-Garland short story award from the Beloit Fiction Journal. Judge Michael Byers wrote, “This story demonstrates a writer in full command – moving across a whole life in a handful of pages, finding damage and solace in unlikely moments, its people carrying their hearts forward into one question after another.”

Staring Contest reflects the waves of uncertainty, despair, and hope that flow throughout “Never the Hero.” The vocalist floats through a richly woven sonic texture that is haunted by the opening question “How can you know if someone’s dead if you’ve never seen them alive?” Memories and visions fill the musical texture, offering moments of solace but also prompting further questions with no easy answers.

Staring Contest (performed by Khemia Ensemble)

My first attempt at a Disquiet Junto, building upon @burn's wonky tritone-based guitar piece. I used Dave Pendle's Ghost Dulcitone instrument to create an undulating counterpoint to the unpredictable guitar part. Half the fun (and challenge) was trying to follow @burn's harmonies. The percussive, overblown flute part adds momentum. Both parts were dirtied up and delayed a bit to fit in behind the guitar.

The biggest challenge was not being able to rely on stereo delays or reverb to create a sense of space. It was a good challenge, having to mix my part around the guitar without any panning or stereo effects.

Recently I've been pushing myself to write music with lots of notes. This has coincided with me collaborating with a mallet percussionist, and the Dulcitone parts I wrote for this piece draw a lot of inspiration from marimba patterns.

Bellymind [disquiet0368] (with Burn)

Collaborative extra-terrestrial transmissions recorded with percussionist Mitch Shiner (@mitchshinermusic). SuperCollider synths played with a MalletKat MIDI controller. Any transmission to outer space is bound to be sent using technology that will be obsolete by the time it reaches beings elsewhere in the universe, so this piece was recorded directly to cassette tape before being transmitted to you via SoundCloud.

Copernican Music [disquiet0373] (with Mitch Shiner)

In honor of 808 day, here are eight algorithmically-generated beats created using Lindenmeyer Systems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-system

The L-System code was written in Supercollider, and it uses a set of rules to generate rhythmic patterns. Each pattern uses a different set of rules. The generated patterns are self-similar, so unique rhythmic motives recur in each of beats, but the rules are complex enough that the patterns never sound repetitive.

Roland TR-808 samples are from Samples From Mars. These beats are free to download and remix.

LSys.808_005

LSys.808_004

LSys.808_003

LSys.808_002

LSys.808_001

Example 2a (Layered Euclidean Rhythms)

Example 2b (Layered Euclidean Rhythms, Pitched Version)

Example 1 (Layered Euclidean Rhythms)

Example 3 (Layered Euclidean Rhythms, Changing k Value)

Performed and recorded remotely at the 2020 So Percussion Summer Institute.

DRUMS + CYMBALS:
McKenzie Squires
Austin T. Richey
Brian Keith
Hunter Gross

Codex - A Dialog

Generative soundtrack for experimental short film.

https://www.lawtonhall.com/leander

_greathorned

Popular tracks