Music In Search of a Choreographer was created from several musical sketches composed and recorded from 2016  through 2021.

I invite dancers to use this work and offer feedback.

Music in Search of a Choreographer

Movement 4

Movement 3

Movement 2

Movement 1

Passages is a companion musical composition for a nine part unique artist book. More information at www.thomasparkerwilliams.com

Passages

Passage 2

Passage 3

Passage 4

Passage 5

Passage 1

I have used the concept of self-similarity in nature - the fact that shapes and patterns repeat in ever smaller or larger scales - for this book. A familiar example of this is the similarity of the structure of an atom with the structure of our solar system.
Wave Motion uses self-similar visual and musical forms to reproduce the experience of a natural feature, the motion of a wave breaking on the shore.

To produce the basic wave shape I used a series of random numbers. The numbers determined, in sequence, whole and half positive or negative steps that were used to create six melodies of twenty-four notes each starting with the notes C,D,E,F,G and A.
The music was written out and the steps were graphed. The graphs of the six melodies were arranged for the best visual fit which yielded the actual chord progression of the composition: F,E,A,G,D,C. The music uses the melodies at different tempos and octaves to create the overall composition. Visually this wave pattern is represented four ways: as a graph of the music composition as it is played in real time, as an ink drawing of an actual wave, as a 3D representation of the basic wave shape that has been copied and scaled to produce a simulation of wave action in nature, and finally, a segment of this wave action is reproduced by the cut shapes of the pages.

more information at
http://www.thomasparkerwilliams.com/21-wave-motion-2001.htm

Wave  Motion

When fog rolls in from the ocean and covers the waters of the Golden Gate, the bridge, isolated from the landscape, becomes a sculptural object.

This book explores that beauty two ways: with seven linocut prints and with an original music suite on CD.

The prints view the bridge from vantage points of a bird in flight. The images were created by constructing a scale 3D computer model and then producing the seven mathematically precise perspective views shown below. The linocut process is a hand cut method of plate making that yields broad strokes and a painterly texture.

The music suite was composed, performed and recorded by the artist in 2005 after a West Coast trip. The suite follows a bird's journey from the Sutro district over the Golden Gate and toward the Marin Headlands. Sounds of actual traffic on the bridge are integrated into the composition.

more information at
http://www.thomasparkerwilliams.com/28-bridge-2008.htm

Bridge

Rise Up, a Fractured Funk is an original music composition with standard and visual scores.
Music, performance (all instruments) recording and art artwork Thomas Parker Williams

Rise Up, a Fractured Funk was originally written by me during the recording of an album by Toe-Knee and the 7th House of Funk in 2005 but never used. I recently found the music for the horn parts and decided to record it for this project.

I envisioned the arrangement of this piece to be like those found on classic Blue Note and Riverside records of the 50's and 60's but with a funk edge like the great horn players of the JB's, Fred, Maceo and Pee Wee.

I used soprano, alto saxophones and a keyboard voice for trombone, piano, keyboard bass, rhythm box and live percussion to emulate the sextet sound. I had fun with this one and hope I made a small tribute to some of my heroes.

The artwork, on paper, in watercolor, inks, colored pencil and enamel, was done as a visual expression of the music to complement the three page score for the piece.

more information at
http://www.thomasparkerwilliams.com/rise-up-a-fractured-funk.htm

Rise  Up,  A Fractured  Funk

Prime Number Meters are experimental original music compositions using four prime numbers, 3, 5, 7 and 11, as 
the upper number of the time signature of an eight-beat measure.  
These time signatures, 3/8, 5/8, 7/8 and 11/8, result in music with a very different feeling than the 
4/4 rhythm commonly used.  All rhythms in Prime Number Meters are programmed to run at a tempo of 200 quarter-note beats per minute.
Music composition, drum programming, recording and performance (all instruments) by
Thomas Parker Williams

Prime - Meter - 7-8

Prime - Meter - 5-8

Prime - Meter - 3-8

An experimental piece that is a multi-track recording of beat passages that are assembled as a DJ would construct a set with jazz type solos using soprano saxophone and electronic wind instrument. No samples were used, all instruments and drum recording by Thomas Parker Williams.
Instruments used:
Soprano Saxophone
Akai, EWI4000s
Korg MS2000R
Yamaha PSR-282
Roland EP 75
live percussion
Hydrogen open source drum program

Beats  and  Solos  10 / 2023

This is the second of experimental pieces that is a multi-track recording of beat passages that are assembled as a DJ would construct a set with jazz type solos using alto, soprano saxophone and electronic wind instrument. No samples were used, all instruments and drum recording by Thomas Parker Williams.
Instruments used:
Alto Saxophone
Soprano Saxophone
Akai, EWI4000s
Korg MS2000R
Yamaha PSR-282
Roland EP 75
Hydrogen open source drum program
Keyboard drum samples

Beats - And - Solos - 11 - 2023

Beats and Solos 12-2023 is an original track in 6/8 that uses only acoustic percussion. Solos with alto and soprano saxophones and Electronic wind instrument appear over synth backgrounds. All instruments by Thomas Parker Williams.
No samples are used

Beats - And - Solos - 12 - 2023

Beats and Solos 1-2024 is the 4th track in an experimental series that features saxophone and EWI solos over dance oriented beats.  The percussion tracks feature acoustic instruments that augment the drum machine parts. No samples are used in this work. All instruments and recording by Thomas Parker Williams.

Beats - And - Solos - 1-2024

Beats and Solos 2-2024 is an experimental piece that is part of the Beats and Solos series. This one features sections in 7/8 time augmented with a 4/4 steady beat. Percussion is provided with a drum program and live acoustic instruments.. All instruments and recording by Thomas Parker Williams.
Solos are performed on Alto, Soprano saxophones and Electronic wind instrument.

Beats - And - Solos - 2-2024

Beats and solos 4-2024 is an experimental work that creates a moving beat foundation for 5 horn solos, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, electronic wind instrument,
alto saxophone again and soprano saxophone.
Each solo goes through three or four key changes. The underlying structure employs stacked open intervals and altered scales.

Composition, recording, performance (all instruments) by Thomas Parker Williams. 

Beats-and-Solos-4-2024

Time Sketches 1 and 2 are two abstract works that experiment with elements that are not tied to a regular meter but repeat to establish a rhythmic pattern.

Composition, recording, performance (all instruments) by Thomas Parker Williams.

Time - Sketches - 1-2

Music composition "City" in 4 parts
composed, performed and recorded by
Thomas Parker Williams
Part 1, the first part of part 2, and part 4 recorded in 2002
the rest of part 2 and part 3 recorded in 2019

"City" was conceived in 2002 as a musical journey through
Manhattan. However, the music and the design of the book 
were not successfully completed then. I re-visited the music 
and book in 2019 and completed the project at that time.

"City" is part of an artist book edition

City - Part - 4-Night

City - Part - 3-Evening

City - Part - 2-Afternoon

City - Part - 1-Morning

Thomas Parker Williams lives and works in Philadelphia, PA, USA. His work includes hand-made artist book editions, unique book works, printmaking, and painting. Some of his artist book editions contain an audio element – music or sound work – composed, performed, and recorded by the artist. Tom's artist books are in numerous private and public collections. 

All of the music on this channel is original, composed, performed (all insruments) and recorded in my studio.

Thomas Parker Williams

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