547 / farewell january
where does the time go? (and a buchla easel patch)
Well, that went quickly. The first month of twenty twenty-four is already over and I’m not quite sure how to feel about it. I didn’t get nearly as much done as I had hoped but definitely enjoyed easing into the new year. Between a cold and an ice storm it felt like there were some days that passed in slow motion while others felt like a hard fought climb to the end of the day. How was it for you?
We are now in the final week and a half of my show at Oregon Contemporary and it feels good. I am very happy with the reception we’ve been getting and the conversations that have come about. I am really proud of the great turn-outs we have had for the First Saturday events and I hope that this final one will be no exception. For the February 3rd installment we will be doing something a little different. I will be having a public conversation / Q&A with Stephanie Snyder from the Cooley Gallery before John Niekrasz performs music to my score “Wave Superposition no. 2”. John will be utilizing voice and text, friction percussion, rotating steel drum and cymbals, circuit-bent shruti box, and ammunition casings in his interpretation of the score. John is by far my favorite drummer in Portland and I am really excited to have him be a part of this show. Stephanie has been very generous with her time in preparing for our chat and has been such a huge supporter of the work I have been doing. I know there is a lot happening this weekend but if you are in Portland and are available to come by, please say hello.
Saturday, February 3rd 5-8pm / 6pm - conversation between me Stephanie Snyder / 7pm- Performance by John Niekrasz / Free + all ages / Drinks + food for sale inside
Studio Postcard
Here is a short recording of something I captured in the studio. I was playing around with making sounds on the Buchla easel and I happened to come up with a patch that reminded me a lot of plucking a guitar string while lightly muting it. I’m not much of a synthesist but playing around with the easel is always something I enjoy.. maybe because I rarely share any of it publicly. It is just pure escapism.
(Side note: With a little bit of spring reverb at the beginning, it momentarily made me remember the guitar sound of this song.)
As I get older I find time disappearing at a ridiculous speed. Can't believe January is done! I did start the year with a real focus both in music and in life but, still, a month gone already. I think back to being young and how time moved slowly. Now it's the opposite. When you're young you always want things to speed towards the next great moment (holiday, birthday, end of school year) and now... wishing the time back.
Love that little Buchla sound!