-
on December 26
Gabriel Gloege
backed a project
Open Ended by Open Ended
NYC Jazz collective is recording an album of all original music. We invite you to be a part of the adventure.
-
100% funded $7,570 pledged
- 73 backers
- Funded Jan 02, 2012
-
-
on April 7, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #11Whatever Doesn't Kill You...
For backers only
Post Comment
If you’re a backer of this project, please
log in
to read this post.
-
on March 28, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #10This Kiss: Part 4 - Full run-through
Post CommentWell this is the final installation in the composition blogging process. A fine line between enlightenment and narcissism, I suppose. But for those who don't compose music on a regular basis I thought it might give some interesting context to the project.
This is a recording from our rehearsal on Saturday. A few small bumps in the road, but this is a pretty accurate rendition of what I had envisioned. Might be fun to listen to it while you look at the form chart from the last post.
The next step--which I won't be documenting--is to just play it a lot, preferably in front of people. The song has to settle; to form around the musicians like a pair of old jeans. Usually changing shape slightly in the process.
-
-
on March 27, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #9About That Album Jacket
Post CommentFinally made a mock up of the limited edition tetrahedron mobile gallery CD holder thingy (still working out the terminiology there.)
You can configure it into 4 different sculpture pieces and it uses "Gecko" technology. To own one is to live in the future, basically.
They aren't cheap so unfortunately I can't make them unless the Kickstarter project is funded. So be sure to spread the word far and wide!
-
on March 25, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #8The Kiss: Part 3 - Form
Post CommentWhen musicians use the term "Form" they're referring to the plot of the music. What happens first, then next, then after that... how does the drama of the music unfold over time.
In the last post I had created a short song (~1:30) but I needed to stretch it to around 5 or 6 minutes. The typical approach to this in small group jazz is to basically play that short song form several times, but improvise different melodies on top of it... similar to how a pop tune plays a section of music several times, but each with different lyrics.
I think of form visually and I like to draw timelines, hence this photo. Here's what you're seeing...
--Time moves from left to right
--Each double bar is one time through the short song you heard in the last update. So we play the short song 4 times.
--The short song has three sections: A, B, and C. C is a little longer than the first two.
--The "V" on each end stands for Vamp. That's where we play a very short pattern over and over. Good for easing into and out of a piece of music.
--The red line that looks like a stock chart represents the intensity of the music
--Ten = tenor sax solo; Trp = trumpet solo; 8s = horns trade solos every 8 bars; 4s = the same, but every 4 bars; X = both horns solo at the same time
--"Head" means we play the song as written, just like you heard in the last post.
So the drama of this song is as follows: calm vamp with bass and drums; then the horns start to improvise calmly, building in intensity as they shorten the time between their solos until they're both soloing on top of each other; then the intensity drops away quickly, like having the rug pulled out from under you; we play the composed melody and counter melody with a small build in intensity that almost teases the listener; then we vamp out into nothing.
Next I have to explain all this to the guys in the band. Then we try to make art out of it without too much artifice.
Rehearsal is Saturday so stay tuned for a sample recording.
-
-
on March 22, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #7The Kiss: Part 2 - counter melody
Post CommentIn the last update on this song I had just the melody, which was long and flowing with extra schmaltz.
To take some of the sappy edge off I've added a counter-melody that's more fragmented and angular. It helps to keep things moving during those long held notes in the original melody. And with the extra notes I can better define the harmony, painting the outline of the melody in stronger, more contrasting colors.
In the audio track below I've recorded the counter-melody on top of the original piano recording from the last post.
These three elements--the melody, counter-melody, and the bass line underneath--take care of the three melodic instruments in the band (trumpet, sax, bass). It also leaves me with a completed tune, as in something I could write down on a couple pieces of paper and share with other musicians.
But in actually turning it into a 6- or 7-minute musical performance, I'm only about of the third of the way there. You see, this melody is about 2 minutes long and is little more than a pliable set of instructions open to interpretation.
Next I have to deal with Form... capital F. That's part 3.
-
-
on March 22, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #6Scouting a Place to Record
Post CommentAsca’s something of a purist when it comes to photography... only using film, no touch ups or enhancements, etc.
I’m the same way when it comes to music, at least these days... no electronic instruments, no digital audio effects, etc.
So when we record the music I’d like to stick with that theme. Which means finding a recording space with natural resonance. You see, we could go into a studio (which we might have to do if we can’t get this project funded) but then we’d be applying digital effects like reverb to recreate the resonance we need for a group like this.
Fewer instruments and slower, simpler music means you want the sound to bounce around a bit before it dies away. it helps to fill the sonic space between the notes and create a more lush sense of harmony as the resonating notes bleed into one another.
So that’s why I’m scouting churches in NYC that will open up their space to us to record in. This video is from when I scouted the famous Trinity Church on Wall Street. A gorgeous church, and one of the oldest in America, I think. They turned me down (sigh) but the surprise ending on this video makes it worth posting none the less. Be sure to watch for the exciting cameo appearance.
Still scouting locations with my engineer. If you’re in NYC and know of some resonant spaces that might work for this project, drop me a line.
-
on March 20, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #5Rehearsal Tracks
Post CommentHad a great rehearsal today with the band in weather that was sent express from June. Ironically, we worked on a song about Winter... Wollman's Rink. A little glitch at the end, but it's coming along nicely.
The photo is of the ice skating rink in Central Park. I was trying to capture the sense of gliding on the ice as you push off of each foot; right then left, back and forth. This has to be one of my favorite photos by Asca. You can check them out here...
http://doyouspeakmusic.com/post/359662673/ascas-images
-
-
on March 19, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #4Blogging The Composition Process... The Kiss: Part 1
Post CommentI’m rewriting one of the songs for this album and I thought I’d share the compositional process with you. Risky business, this... could be fascinating to see the way the music comes together and the decisions taken to get there, or it could be a bit of a killjoy and ruin the mystery of the final product.
You decide. [If you decide No, you should stop reading now]
This song is called The Kiss based on this photo Asca took in Hong Kong, which you can see here...
http://doyouspeakmusic.com/post/359662673/ascas-images
I was never happy with what I originally wrote. It was just a pretty melody without form or purpose. I needed some kind of contrast to keep the listener from falling asleep, or worse, writing sappy love poems.
My idea for the piece, coming from the photo, was about the struggle to find intimate moments of tenderness in a fast-paced world. I imagined this couple perhaps had a secret love and this was a stolen embrace in a momentarily empty corner of the labyrinth city that is Hong Kong. Or perhaps a loving but tired couple enjoying a fleeting respite in each others’ arms before carrying about their daily struggle to make ends meet.
Either way I wanted the melody to only appear at the end, and only briefly. The rest of the piece would represent their struggle to find each other, and then a reluctant return to that struggle after their momentary embrace. Without that struggle, without some kind of conflict, it just sounds like, well, Yanni.
Up until a few days ago, all I had was this melody.
Tomorrow I’ll show you how I’m blurring that melody the way Asca is blurring the image itself.
-
-
on March 14, 2010
Gabriel Gloege
Posted project update #3Blogumentary Change
For backers only
Post Comment
If you’re a backer of this project, please
log in
to read this post.
Gabriel Gloege
Manhattan, NY
Gabriel Gloege joined Kickstarter on January 19, 2010
