Yesterday afternoon’s sky looked really strange; a mixture of white clouds beneath ominous dark ones.  It was as if the sun was getting through somewhere but not completely.  One of the great things about creating these #MusicalMinutes is that you become sensitive to your surroundings in the search for any inspiration.  What do you think?

04 Sep 25 Ambiguous Sky

Our journey moves onwards with xylophone sparks and whispering brass.  For the last couple of months I have been exploring pitch-class sets; discovering ways to encode materiality into sound.  Today’s #MusicalMinute is in 6-33 and contains many of the rhythmic characteristics of my music.  Can you hear a golden thread developing?

05 Sep 25 Edge of Dusk

Our ambient minimalist journey continues into the realms of PCS 6-z24 with a minute of peace — much needed at the moment!  I firmly believe that one of the greatest roles of an artist is to create, enhance, and draw attention to the beauty in the world that is within everyone’s reach.  It is a role that is easily forgotten when surrounded by events.  What do you think?

06 Sep 25 Quiet Interlude

Today’s #MusicalMinute called for sustained dyads on the vibraphone using a pitch-class set of 6-z19 — it sounds complicated doesn’t it?  However, the resulting track seems quite relaxing with the gentle lilt added by an offbeat celeste.  I am suppressing the urge to overcomplicate things.  What do you think?

07 Sep 25 Sunday Radiance

Another day, another adventure!  Today’s #MusicalMinute takes us to an imaginary realm of the mind.  However, it could be argued that all of these tracks do.  I find it interesting that each listener will have a different experience and reaction based on their own circumstances and perspective.  For me, that is the joy of the Arts.  What do you think?

08 Sep 25 Rising Haze

It is very easy to forget that I am aiming to create ‘ambient minimalism’ tracks!  I suppose the ethos behind creativity is all about exploration within the confines of the imagination — a very personal restriction.  Nature has a rhythm of its own, we provide the melody!  It’s amazing what ideas arise from creating these #MusicalMinutes.  What do you think?

09 Sep 25 Earthen Pulse

Evolution occurs within its own timeframe and resists being hurried.  Often, when there are huge technological advances, it will take time for everyone to be comfortable and continue their own progress.  Is this what is going to happen with advances in AI?  Some argue that whole value systems will change — I think it depends on how deep those values are.  What do you think?

10 Sep 25 Subtle Tension

Initially, today’s #MusicalMinute could seem like a random series of notes, but if you listen to it more than once you’ll start to notice a pattern emerging.  I wonder if this is how the study of history works.  Does it enable the future to be predicted as an echo of the past?  If so, what next?  What do you think?

12 Sep 25 Futurist Echo

I always knew that these #MusicalMinutes could lead into some strange places.  Today’s track is the result of conflicting demands; one — to create something that follows on from what went before, two — fulfils the instruction for ‘metallic tone’, and three — is in PCS 6-z28.  Ultimately it alludes the clash of both pre and self determination and destiny.  What do you think?

11 Sep 25 Metallic Glint

Scene from the lyric opera "The Rover" to the libretto on Joseph Conrad (under construction).

Pawel Strzelecki: HMS Victory Before the Last Tartana's Race (2025)  ["The Rover" on Joseph Conrad].

Vocal improvisation with audio media. Two separately recorded vocal takes combined. Text and melodic incipit by the composer:

changing.  
breaking the sky and skipping over time.  
waves drift the sea shifts.  
all my dreams are in the sand.  
my songs float away on the wings of the terns.  

improv 10-15-12

Composer/vocal performer (bass)
Creator of Electric Opera

improv 10-15-12

Michael Kallstrom

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