tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67097672009-11-03T21:15:57.442-06:00lo-rez snapshots from life at high sample ratejimnoreply@blogger.comBlogger657125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-32417746742042631482008-12-08T21:23:00.002-06:002008-12-08T21:27:50.044-06:00

I've had a few extra days to get another pass of editing done on the score and parts, and now my friend Peter Martin - conductor and copyist extraordinaire - is doing the final clean-up. Soon it will be in the hands of the directors and musicians who will perform it... I can't wait to hear it!

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-31273230873211455172008-12-03T20:35:00.005-06:002008-12-03T21:06:28.008-06:00

I'll get back to the self-indulgent composer-artiste-geek-speak about Diabolus Ex Machina tomorrow... I've got something I've gotta get out.Well it's after Thanksgiving, which means that unless you live in a yurt in the Himalayas - no, come to think of it, you'd probably hear it there too - you're hearing the inescapable bastardization of Christmas music. Now, I know - I've kinda trampled this

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-47427949350108171622008-12-02T18:03:00.001-06:002008-12-02T18:04:10.849-06:00

Hey sorry, I've been fighting a fever for the past 3 days. Feeling much better tonight - I hope to be back on the blog tomorrow.Thanks for reading!

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-31331704297101892492008-11-28T16:51:00.004-06:002008-12-02T18:05:15.778-06:00

I've got a lot more I want to share about Diabolus Ex Machina, but until next week, allow me the liberty of savoring a break while I enjoy turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, turkey hash, turkey a la turk, and some turkey. The word has lost all meaning.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! My most recent musical revelation - SEASICK STEVE!!!

jimnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-7435383778415153162008-11-26T19:13:00.007-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.306-06:00

OK, so I've talked about how I started with an original idea totally unrelated to music (the legend of the Jugganatha), then how I broke this down into themes that were still unrelated to music, and then how these thematic ideas start to translate into musical concepts - now let's talk about how general musical concepts could become musical techniques that actually I could actually use to

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-39398894023574038782008-11-25T21:08:00.002-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.306-06:00

Yesterday I talked about the initial concept behind this creation. So how would I turn this into a music statement?- Blind, unquestioning devotion can be dangerous.To me, blind devotion is madness. I have to believe that questioning your own faith is not only human, but it's what makes having faith truly a strength, and not a mindless weakness. This meant that I had to embody "madness" in this

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-43346927161743055032008-11-24T21:36:00.005-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.306-06:00

Every piece begins with a single, simple idea - in this case, it was a concept.The initial concept that started the whole piece was the legend of the Jugganatha. In a nutshell: in India, there were these giant temples on wheels that the faithful would pull through the streets to show their devotion. Occasionally these temples would get a little too much downhill momentum and get out of control.

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-2963320156425636332008-11-21T18:00:00.003-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.306-06:00

After much deliberation, and ignoring a lot of good advice, I've decided on a title:DIABOLUS EX MACHINA(at least, until someone comes up with a better idea that changes my mind!)

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-22184753385344871612008-11-20T15:41:00.008-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.307-06:00

This is a page of my rough draft. There are many like it but this one is mine.Click on the image to see a bigger version. A few trivial bits to notice:- The title at the top - JUGGERNAUT. This was the original title of the piece. This also used to be the start of the piece. It is now about a minute and a half into the piece.- the guitar part is detuned a half-step (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb).

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-56248509541617939222008-11-19T10:00:00.004-06:002008-11-19T10:07:54.877-06:00

Y'know, I was going to post a video today about this new piece, but I saw THIS just this morning, and it took the cake.The time, planning, and organization involved to pull this off is amazing. As John Biggs put it in his blog, "you kind of realize that maybe the human race isn’t doomed after all if kids like these will be calling the shots in thirty years."

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-5495216099379613112008-11-18T20:57:00.006-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.307-06:00

Hey, I've been getting some great comments back and I'm going to endeavor to respond to them - if not in the original postings, then in future blogs! Thanks for the audience participation!I thought I'd take a moment to give you the more "personal side" of the composition experience. Namely, the neurosis. Here's a crackerjack example. The night before I finished the piece (last Saturday night)

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-30009676541524215522008-11-17T16:36:00.002-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.307-06:00

So I guess I'll start with the first page of the score (after the title) - instrumentation! Here it is, starting with a pretty standard wind ensemble:PiccoloFlute 1Flute 2OboeClarinet in E-flatClarinet 1 in B-flatClarinet 2 in B-flatClarinet 3 in B-flatBass ClarinetContrabass ClarinetBassoonAlto Saxophone 1Alto Saxophone 2Tenor SaxophoneBaritone SaxophoneTrumpet 1 in B-flatTrumpet 2 in

jimnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-72973435845904866602008-11-14T11:19:00.006-06:002008-12-08T21:29:56.307-06:00

Starting Monday, I'll be blogging about my new piece, which still doesn't have a definite title... Ah, the joy of titles. I blogged about how much I hate coming up with them a while ago. John Mackey recently blogged about them. Even the New York Times has taken the time and effort to write about them.Nevertheless, here I am again - the piece is finished and the title is... not. Here's what

jimnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-80072754573411206612008-07-16T15:41:00.005-05:002008-07-16T16:02:43.361-05:00

Mike Bartodziej created a really cool documentary on the history of Chicago blues and the Chess Records Label. He interviewed me for it, and has posted the entire documentary on youtube...

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-73669691077231140072007-12-18T15:27:00.000-06:002007-12-18T13:47:17.310-06:00

In tribute to Nicole Alaniz' penchant for punk rock, I have created a far less-than-usual cover for the Angels with Dirty Faces score... the letters cut from band logos and magazines for tattoos and body art, music, motorcycles, food, travel and adventure... and, of course, Rolling Stone magazine... I think Nicole would approve.

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-78183120840216114392007-12-14T13:57:00.000-06:002007-12-14T14:00:38.911-06:00

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-46708158377937350722007-12-13T21:51:00.000-06:002007-12-13T21:52:27.340-06:00

So what did you do last weekend?

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-88983714337673192412007-12-12T13:57:00.000-06:002007-12-12T14:04:32.784-06:00

(click to enlarge)Getting tracks prepped for the Midwest convention... figured I'd show you a screenshot of the editing window in Pro-Tools where I chopped up the Calgary Stampede/Dwayne Engh/Tyler Hornby recording session... come by the BCM booth next week to hear it!

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-25410439375291824662007-12-11T10:27:00.001-06:002007-12-11T10:30:17.292-06:00

Midway now has paper cups! No more styrofoam!! Pretty fast, huh?!Next step: get Midway to buy MUGS and do away with all these disposable cups...

jimnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-48481359371773717142007-12-07T10:32:00.000-06:002007-12-10T11:01:31.995-06:00

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-81782358647638458782007-12-06T16:49:00.000-06:002007-12-06T16:53:00.638-06:00

Wednesday, about midnight...

jimnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-31005686664230090952007-12-04T13:42:00.001-06:002007-12-04T13:42:34.495-06:00

Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in this guy's cube was wrapped in tin foil.(thank God there's a locked door to my studio!)

jimnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-66892142785350808162007-11-30T17:15:00.000-06:002007-12-17T15:20:34.293-06:00

For some dumb reason, I can't get today's picture out of my phone... so here's a youtube video I found on Troels Folmann's blog... such beautiful musical souls...

jimnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-39060527069618406512007-11-29T18:12:00.000-06:002007-11-29T18:27:00.236-06:00

To the lady in the dirty white Ford P.O.S. with New Jersey license plates on 90 West this morning -- you're a menace. I watched you zig-zag across 4 lanes of rush-hour traffic for literally FIFTEEN MINUTES so that you could get ONE CAR AHEAD OF ME BEFORE YOU GOT TO YOUR EXIT. Get off the road you idiot.

jimnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709767.post-69765709365914108612007-11-28T18:24:00.000-06:002007-11-28T06:17:23.681-06:00

This is my last one... Yesterday I convinced the powers-that-order-supplies at Midway to stop ordering styrofoam cups (unhealthy for the user, take a long time to biodegrade, bad for the environment) and purchase recycled paper cups. The discussion took about 2 minutes. They'd been ordering them for so long, they'd never considered anything different. Paper cups are not ideal, but it's a start

jimnoreply@blogger.com4