Funky Spoon

Performed by Neil R. Coulter, recorded in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea, on September 13, 2013.

Philip Glass wrote Gradus in 1968, upon returning to New York after studying with Nadia Boulanger and Ravi Shankar. A “gradus” is a kind of method book or exercise book to help learn an instrument; it means “steps.” Glass's composition, dedicated to his frequent saxophonist-collaborator Jon Gibson, is an early example of what would become his trademark minimalist style. Minimalism sets a number of variables as constants in order to highlight changes within a smaller set of variables. In Gradus many elements that usually change throughout a piece of music are kept static through the whole piece. The first movement comprises 65 lines, with each line subdivided into 32 beats (each beat being an eighth note or eighth rest). All of the notes played by the saxophonist are eighth notes, and all rests are eighth rests. The tempo is quarter note = 132, and it remains constant from the beginning to the end. The beginning of the piece is marked with the dynamic mezzo-forte, and that does not change as the piece progresses. All of these elements are kept the same throughout the piece in order to draw attention to the main thing that changes: the set of pitches available for the melody. The piece begins with an ascending melody of five pitches. Those five pitches are manipulated into different patterns, and gradually new pitches are introduced into the mix, one at a time. Because this is the only significant change, each new pitch sticks out much more obviously than in a piece in which all the variables are constantly changing. Though the pitches are put through many different arrangements, there is always a pull toward the ascending melody from the beginning, and by the end of the piece the ascending melody contains nine pitches.

Philip Glass - Gradus (Part 1), for soprano saxophone (1968)

Say It

15 Happy Anatomy (Band Studio)

Voici un titre bonus de notre projet "Imaginary Broadway" à partager!
Alexandre JULITA, violon 
Émilien VERET, clarinette basse
Pierre TEREYGEOL, guitare électrique
Shankar KIRPALANI, basse
Julien AUGIER, batterie

Toutes les infos de ce projet sur : 
http://alexandrejulita.com/imaginarybroadway

Le disque "Imaginary Broadway" est toujours disponible sur :

Itunes : http://apple.co/1JZUjKf
QOBUZ : http://bit.ly/1EJgmo
GooglePlay http://bit.ly/1LdI2P4
Music Me  http://bit.ly/1iLA60B

Par correspondance : http://www.musearecords.com/ext_re_new_releaseselect.php?np=41085
mais aussi Fnac :
http://musique.fnac.com/a9068412/Alexandre-Julita-Imaginary-Broadway-CD-album
Et magasins Fnac, Cultura, Leclerc, Carrefour…

Central Park At Dusk

En Premier

"Waltz #1" de Elliott Smith.
Christophe Camier: Accordéon
Raphaël Dumont: Saxophone Ténor
prise de son Jean-Luc Mallet
enregistré le 20 Décembre 2015 à Amiens

Waltz #1 - Elliott Smith

'Vantdraught 4' [CD|LP|DIGITAL]
Denovali Records · den256
available on all formats at [http://denovali.com/kubakapsa]

Kuba Kapsa is a Polish pianist and composer being the leader of the avant-jazz combo Contemporary Noise Sextet (2006-2014). Beyond that he is a renowned composer for film and theater plays. His latest venture is the first of a sophisticated series of projects of modern classical music bearing the common title "Vantdraught".

The first part of the "Vantdraught" series was called "Vantdraught 10 · Vol. 1" and featured ten classical instruments - 4 violins, 2 violas, cello, vibraphone, marimba and piano. The now appearing second part is "Vantdraught 4", a quartet album written for violin, clarinet/bass clarinet, trombone and piano. The minimalistic style of Vantdraught 10 is preserved although the music is less repetitive and much more intimate. Instinct and intuition is the main force behind the writing process, usually avoiding typical chord progressions and the classical cadential technique. In contrast to "Vantdraught 10 · Vol. 1", the rhythm domain is also less important, thus allowing the melody and harmony to come to the fore. The pieces of "Vantdraught 4" are mainly tonal music but Kapsa also makes use of atonal and polytonal harmonies which requires the listener to put more effort into listening to these parts. The unusual set of instruments is what makes this quartet album unique and fresh sounding. "Vantdraught 4" is certainly linked to classical and minimal music in general but one can find other influences such as jazz and "new music".

Much like its predecessor, "Vantdraught 4" features an astonishing artwork based on "The Reluctant Conscript" by the seminal artist duo Kahn & Selesnick.


Waltz #1 - Elliott Smith

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