Music Technology Recital

Produced by students in

Music 45 (“Projects in Music Technology”)

Daniel Koppelman, Director

Thursday, February 10, 2005

7:00 PM

Becky Tapp Daniels Music Classroom

(music computer lab)

Furman University

PROGRAM

Missa Electronica (2005) Ryan McKendrick

I. Kyrie

II. Gloria

   for voice, computer, and MIDI controller

Processed Onions (2005) Scott Black

   for marimba and computer

Yagare (2005) Katie Straker

   for voice, computer, and MIDI controller

Guitar History (2005) Brian Warth

   for electric guitar and computer

La Matanza (2005) Gaines Sturdivant

   for MIDI controllers and computer

Program Notes and Composer/Performer Biographies

Missa Electronica is a synthesis of text and song, inspired by the unique mass settings of Arvo P˛rt. Both the Kyrie and Gloria utilize audio samples of masses by Palestrina and P˛rt. In the Kyrie, I have also used my own voice to record whispered and sung liturgical texts. All of the sounds in this movement are derived from my voice and the audio samples. The Gloria is composed of audio samples and live vocal processing. In each movement, I have strived to maintain a sense of balance. Ryan McKendrick is a senior music education/church music major at Furman University. He is a baritone singer and one of the student conductors of the Furman Singers. He will be student teaching at Blue Ridge High School next term. After graduating, he plans to pursue a master's degree in choral conducting.

Processed Onions is intended to be a concertino of sorts for solo marimba, orchestra, and computer. There wasn’t any particular inspiration for this piece, but more of an evolution, with the resulting piece having two parts. The first part is a straightforward marimba and tape piece, with live repetition of marimba patterns being looped over the solo part, accompanied by the orchestra. The orchestra, which is intended to be a real orchestra, has a stand in for this performance of numerous samplers with orchestral sounds. That section segues into the second section, which is improvised using a piece of software that samples a played pattern and continues playing that pattern while new patterns are layered on top of it. This allows the performer to create a complex rhythmic and melodic pattern. There are also numerous effects added to the resulting audio, making for a very interesting aural experience. The title reflects these properties; as Shrek puts it: ogres, onions and this piece have one thing in common – they’ve got layers - and those layers are processed through effects that render it unrecognizable as a marimba. Scott Black is a sophomore from Charleston, South Carolina, and graduated from the Charleston County School of the Arts. His intended major is Bachelor of Music Theory. His interests lie in both the technology and music fields, having played both percussion and piano. He also actively participates in the Furman Band and Orchestra programs, and enjoys composing. In the technology field, Scott enjoys exploring both music technology and video/audio production, in addition to a bit of web design. Scott currently studies percussion with Dr. John Beckford.

The name of this work-in-progress, Yagare, is a Japanese suffix used to indicate contempt. The work is derived from the process and frustration of translating Japanese news articles, but is not intended to be strictly programmatic. The piece, as it currently stands, has been composed using synthesizers and various audio samples, including words and sounds taken from the article that inspired the concept. Katie Straker is a senior cellist and music major. She enjoys bleepy noises, pacing in circles, and the word "skullduggery".

My piece contains sections of bebop style, jazz blues style and rock blues style music. Each section is made up of a loop created live using my guitar in POLAR. The sections all begin with a transition that was prerecorded. The other parts, however, are all improvised. Dr. Koppelman will be assisting me on the piece to start the transitions and begin and end all POLAR passes as I improvise. Brian Warth is a senior from Greenville, SC; getting a BA in Music; attended the Fine Arts Center of Greenville for two years studying guitar under Steve Watson; in the Jazz Band for 2 years at Furman; in the Jazz combos for 3 years at Furman

La Matanza (the murder) follows the strategic thoughts of a stalker carrying out his ultimate fantasy. Several of the sounds were generated using the virtual instrument Sculpture courtesy of Apple's Logic Pro 7. In addition, sound files and various synthesizers are utilized from Propellerhead's Reason. Devices used include both the Korg SG keyboard and Roland SPD-20 percussion pad. Gaines Sturdivant is a current Spanish major with an avid interest in drums, recording, and music technology. While he has considerable experience playing drums and percussion for various musical groups, this is his debut using all electronic media.