This past weekend, I did a repeat performance of the “Dirt, Dust, and Pollen, Parallelled by Signal Bells” in Houston at Rice University. It was part of a program of microtonal music. I had never encountered any of the composers on the bill and was very excited to see the interesting work going on in Houston. The piece went well, although not as well as it did in LA. I hope to do a studio recording of it sometime in the near future.

Edit: There are now recordings available from the concert. Really nice stuff!
http://xenharmonic.wikispaces.com/17tppp4

More info in work…

Bent Festival was a great time. The Owl made its way to and from LA safely and the performance was a success. It was great meeting some of the folks at the festival and I hope to work with them again sometime. I was very impressed by a number of the workshops and performances such as Loud Objects from NY.

More info in work…

Tomorrow morning, I’m off to Los Angeles to perform at the Bent Festival. I’ll be playing at Grand Performances on Saturday. I’ve seen pictures of the venue and it is CRAZY. It looks a little like a theme park.

Most importantly, this is the first time The Owl has made its way outside of Texas. I just checked the FedEx site and its already waiting for me in LA. I can’t wait to get there and tune it up.

The Universal Instrument show went amazingly well. Not only was the new space incredible, but all the performances were spot on. The programming that Brandon Young put together was a sight to behold. Props to James Alexander, Ashley Gaar, Nick Hennies, Sarah Norris, and Mikal Hart for doing a bang up job on “Seen Through.” Can’t wait to hear the recording.

More info in work…

Don’t miss the next NMC concert “The Universal Instrument” on April 12th. There will be a ton of great music on the program including the premiere of my new song cycle “Seen through.” It’s based on the lovely poetry of Dorothy Meiburg and it features soprano Ashley Gaar, violist James Alexander, hornist Mikal Hart, and percussionists Sarah Norris and Nick Hennies.

There will be an open rehearsal of the piece this Saturday at 5:00pm at 1010 Willow St, and a radio show on 91.7 KOOP Sunday at 8:30pm. I’ll also be giving a pre-concert talk at 7:30 before the show. All of these events are made possible by a grant from Meet the Composer.

THE UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENT
An Evening of New Music for Voice
Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 8:00 PM (pre-concert talk at 7:30)
Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River St, 78701)
Tickets: $12 in advance at End of an Ear, $15 at the door

A new recording is now online. A short trio for violin, high tension music wire, and scrap metal. All parts recorded in single takes using no editing, and no effects. Done as part of the CT-Collective.

Download MP3

The last two Saturdays featured two of my pieces at Salvage Vanguard Theater. I was really pleased with both performances. Thanks especially to all the players. I’m lucky to have such dedicated musicians to work with here in Austin. Thanks also to Aaron Mace and Rick Reed for organizing these shows. They went very smoothly and had great turnouts. Thanks to Josh Ronsen for taking the photos.

Maritime Suite, second performance, Feb 23rd
Sarah Norris, percussion; Seetha Shivaswamy, flute; Henna Chou, cello; Travis Weller, violin

Old River / Lost River, second performance, Mar 1st
James Alexander, viola; Nick Hennies, percussion; Brandon Young, owl; Brent Fariss, contrabass; Travis Weller, violin

I’ll be performing this weekend along with Tatsuya Nakatani & my friend Bill Meadows. Check it out:

March 1st, Saturday.
8:30 PM doors, show 9:00PM sharp.
Salvage Vanguard Theater 2803 Manor Rd. - $12
presented by, Church of the Friendly Ghost.

9pm Tatsuya Nakatani - Improvisational Percussionist - performs solo.
10:00pm William Meadows - Pluto: Requiem for an Icy World
10:30pm NMC ensmemble performs Travis Weller’s Old River / Lost River

Tatsuya Nakatani (percussion) is originally from Osaka, Japan. In 2006 he performed in 80 cities in 7 countries and collaborated with 163 artists worldwide. In the past 10 years he has released nearly 50 recordings on CD.

He has created his own instrumentation, effectively inventing many instruments and extended techniques. He utilizes drumset, bowed gongs, cymbals, singing bowls, metal objects, bells, and various sticks and bows to create an intense, organic music that defies category or genre. His music is based in improvised/ experimental music, jazz, free jazz, rock, and noise, yet retains the sense of space and beauty found in traditional Japanese folk music.

In addition to live solo and ensemble performances he works as a sound designer for film and television. He also teaches Masterclasses and Workshops at the University level. He also heads H&H Production, an independent record label and recording studio based in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was selected as a performing artist for the Pennsylvania Performing Artist on Tour (PennPat) roster as well as a Bronx Arts Council Individual Artist grant.

William Meadows
“Pluto: Requiem for an Icy World” (2006)
For cello and electroacoustic music.

Lowly Pluto, unknown to Holst, demoted to a dwarf, gets no respect.
This certainly won’t be the last tribute to that speck of rock and ice.
Most of the sounds were derived from recordings of the cello, processed
in various ways with Kyma and Metasynth. The electronic score evokes
the stark and desolate edge of the solar system, contrasted by the
melodic line of the cello. Use of extended playing techniques in the
middle section merges the live and recorded worlds. “Pluto: Requiem for
an Icy World” was nominated by the Austin Critic’s Table for Best
Original Composition in 2006, and it will be performed at the 2008
SEAMUS National Conference in Salt Lake City.

Travis Weller premiers Old River / Lost River (composed Jan 2008.)

Old River / Lost River employs custom built instruments that I’ve
been working with over the past two years: a high tension music wire
instrument named “The Owl” as well as scrap-steel “bells” and
“chimes” that I developed for a commission by the percussion quartet
“Paella” in Scotland earlier this year. Some of the sounds were
inspired by a landscape east of Houston that I travelled through
recently. The title comes from two rivers: The ‘Old River’ and the
‘Lost River’ which join around that general area. Like much of my
work, this piece explores the stability and density of sound.

Performers:
Travis Weller, amplified violin
James Alexander, amplified viola
Brent Fariss, amplified contrabass
Nick Hennies, percussion
Brandon Young, owl

More info in work…

This Saturday, is a special edition of Tone Burst: a KOOP Radio / COMMERCIAL SUICIDE benefit concert

I’ll be performing the “Maritime Suite” with Sarah Norris, Seetha Shivaswamy and Henna Chou. The concert will also include solo and group performances by local
experimental musicians Nick Hennies, Alex Keller, Brent Fariss/Sarah
Norris, Thomas Fang, Rick Reed.

There will also be refreshments, a fundraising raffle of artwork, musical
equipment, CDs and other items of interest, with all proceeds going
towards the rebuilding of KOOP Radio, which if you don’t know, suffered
yet another devastating fire January 6th of this year.

For more info, see http://www.spectralhouse.com/toneburst6.htm

Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road, 8pm, $8