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Blackbox #010: New sounds … New techniques …

By the end of the 19th century we already start seeing composers like Berlioz and Debussy experimenting more and more with the characteristic sounds and colors of different instruments. As a natural result of thinking more in color and effects the instruments had to be forced to their sonic extremes, to create a new sound world. The composers started to explore and expand the sonic possibilities of instruments and pushed these to previously uncharted territories.

In this episode of Blackbox, I would like to give you a short introduction on the development of new playing techniques to create such new sounds. I will also show you a two examples for such interesting sounds from my own repertory: the “fishing line” section from “Lacrymae” by Murat Yakin and the “e-bow+mallet+plucking+whistling” section from “Drifting through the Echoes of Time” by Turgut Erçetin.

Enjoy!
-Seda

Links for further exploration:

  • Stephen Scott’s “Bowed Piano Ensemble”
  • How to use an e-bow on a piano
  • Preparing the piano for “Sonatas and Interludes” by John Cage
  • “Aeolian Harp” (1923) by Henry Cowell
  • Blackbox #009: It’s OK if it’s rhythmic!

    In this episode I would like to continue where I finished last time (have a look at: Blackbox #008) and focus on another element which is quite different in contemporary music compared to other types of music: Rhythm.

    In this episode I am going to show you that dissonances are actually as such not the reason why some of us find contemporary music uncomfortable. You will see that when we are provided with a steady beat, and a clear rhythmic structure, we can take even the most unbearable dissonances.

    Enjoy!
    –Seda

    PS: next time when you listen to a popular song by Björk or Röyksopp try to imagine the music without the beat. Then you will also see how dissonant some of the most popular songs actually are. If you want to try this out just click on the links below:

    Röyksopp: A Higher Place
    Björk: Possibly Maybe

    Listening to Istanbul…

    As many of you know, right now I am working on a CD and concert project: “Listening to Istanbul”. For this project I have commissioned six piano works by the most talented Turkish composers of our time. I will record this excellent music in June 2010, and perform the pieces in a series of concerts in Turkey, Europe and the US starting in July.

    If you would like to learn more about “Listening to Istanbul” here is a video in which I introduce the project. To stay informed about the upcoming CD and the concerts simply sign up for my newsletter or visit us on http://www.newmusicistanbul.com!

    This video and many other videos about the project are also available on Listening to Istanbul Website, and on Youtube.

    Thanks for watching!

    Blackbox #004: My Chamber Music Partner is a Computer!

    Hans Tutschku - http://www.tutschku.comWelcome to the fourth episode of Blackbox. This episode of Blackbox will introduce a composition that employs not only solo piano but also live-electronics: Zellen-Linien (Cells and Lines), composed by one of the most important electronic music composers of our time: Hans Tutschku. I will particularly focus on one fascinating aspect of this composition which is the interaction between computer and performer, and how this interaction affects the aural outcome of each performance.

    Here is the full recording of the piece from my performance at the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival:

    <a href="http://music.sedaroeder.com/track/hans-tutschku-zellen-linien">Hans Tutschku &#8211; Zellen Linien by Seda Röder</a>

    If you would like to listen to a live performance of Zellen-Linien, you are kindly invited to my upcoming performance at MIT’s Kilian Hall on September 25, at 8pm.

    I am looking forward to seeing you there, and as always please let me know if you have any comments on this podcast either by simply emailing me at seda@sedaroeder.com or using the comments field below.

    – Seda

    The next episode of Blackbox…

    … will be about Hans Tutschku’s Zellen-Linien which is a piece for piano and live-electronics. You can listen to my live recording of Zellen-Linien at the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival here.

    <a href="http://music.sedaroeder.com/track/hans-tutschku-zellen-linien">Hans Tutschku &#8211; Zellen Linien by Seda Röder</a>

    If you have any particular questions about this piece, please post them here by using the comments field below, or email me directly at seda@sedaroeder.com, and I will then try to address your questions in my upcoming podcast.

    I am looking forward to your input:-)
    - Seda