I've been following this for a while, can't wait to have time on a Friday to participate. Props for starting something and continuing it; that's a lot harder than it seems (I'm learning...)
Not sure where to find the message from Robert Raines about MAX, so just replying here -- here's my take: MAX is awesome. But everything takes a long time, and it can be very frustrating to learn (your other music software experience won't help yo...
Lou Harrison said something or other about composers being the people who write in all the styles. While all the styles may be valid, they can't all say the same thing. I think that one of the reasons that the 1950's -70's super serialists (and their descendants like, [shall we dare say Charles Wuorinen]) write music that is such a crashing bore is that they used a language created for the extreme angst of expressionism, when what they had to say was not expressionistic. When they tried ot angst ridden it game off like a musical 3$ bill. They were largely in comfortable academic positions, and not not emerged from pogroms and terror. Large portions of our musical culture came to confuse anxiety with profundity.
I enjoyed your posted pieces very much. The birds is a wonderful piece. I particularly admire your ability and daring to use whatever musical gestures or idioms suit what you have to say. Your mingling of idioms is very powerful. I am very glad that composers like you remind the rest of us that there is not intrinsic virtue in confusing any style with one's personality. Let styles be tools not an identity. We mix idioms and dialects and even borrow phrases from other languages when we speak. Why not when we make music. I hope we hear your stuff on a recording soon so we can buy it and put it on the cd player.
Elliot,
a composer describing the work of another living composer with such clarity, insight and fervor : that is outrageously beautiful.
You are right, some singular sounds can be like diving boards to reach a true quality of silence, which should always be a private property of the one who listens.
Thank you.
Igor
Here I am to listen to your woks Elliot ! I loved your Bird string Quartet, the Endgame study and the harmonies of the Turist, very moving piece... of course the construction built of I wash my clothes is very good too ! Bravo !!!
Thanks Elliot. I listened to the hip-hop tune you did, and I enjoyed it. It's very rich with sound, and I enjoy the density of it. How did you create the beat? Did you sample some other compositions? I feel like I heard some familiar stuff in the background.....
Thanks for your kind works and wonderful insight! I agree with what you said about polystylism today and collage in general. In today's postmodern society, I suppose artists feel free to jump from one style to the next without any sense of development. Btw, I find the progression in Endgame Study very intriguing and satisfying. Kudos.
Elliot, thanks so very much for your feedback of my music. I can't overstate how gratifying it is to hear from a fellow composer who 'gets' my music! No one in my 9-5 world can get anything from my compositions (nor can anyone in my family or circle of friends, for that matter).
As far as your compositions, I think they're excellent. Ouroboros, is magnificent! There are echoes of Webern's 5 Satze for string quartet (especially in mood, harmony) as well as a beautiful sense of balance and textures.
I love the section at 4:15-4:30. Great stuff Elliot.