KUIPER'S TROUSERS - Garritan Steinway & Mixed Ensemble (Sosnowski)

[etLux]

Kuiper's Trousers
Stochastic Fantasia No. 1
David J. Sosnowski


To Listen:

www.DavidSosnowski.com


I rarely venture into algorithmic stochastic minimalism.
And, well, I admit I'm not really all that serious about
it when I do (my trousers notwithstanding). However,
I thought it might be interesting to see how Gary's new
Steinway gets along with such modernist material.

The "ensemble" is piano, vibes, bells, strings, and
mixed percussion (some electronic) -- with most
drawn from JABB, plus a few other odds and ends.

Best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[sosmus]

David:
Outstanding. A real "toot, whistle, plunk and boom" composition. All sorts of thoughts went through my mind as I listened, such as "Sci-Fi" cinematic (too obvious) or is this truly an example of future music when tonality has been completely exhausted. My only concern was that with this type of intense composition, it takes a lot of concentration and focus to absorb it, so maybe it could be a tad shorter or broken into mvmts, or episodes. I recall that one of the "serialism" composers (Babbit,Berg,Krenek, Webern, et.al) wrote a symphony that had one movement that was just 11 measures long.
This genre' is very difficult for live players to perform with any degree of accuracy but now that we have computers and sequencers--Voila!
Let the dancing begin!

Steve

[trentpmcd]

Wow, the third new Sosnowski piece in a very short time. You sure belted this one out in a hurry. This is, well, a bit far out there. Maybe a little frigid. Lots of interesting bits. I guess a minor work compared to some of the others you’ve done, but interesting none the less. I have no idea how I’m going to work “Pluto” into this, but I had to give it a try…..

Actually, I do like it. A bit different from your usual work. The Steinway works very well here, as do the other instruments - not exactly sure what a few of the sounds are - electronic blips and treated gongs...

[etLux]

Lest I forget: the basis for the piece...

If there is a Kuiper Belt, reasoned I, then
surely, there must be a pair of Kuiper's Trousers.

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[valhalx]

David,

Very interesting piece. In as much as the stochastic elements are randomly generated by mathematical processes, does that mean it's different each time you run it?

Bill

[etLux]

Hi Steve,

David:
Outstanding.

Lol... well, now, that surprises me! Thanks, Steve;
though I really take this kind of "writing" with a
glance askance.

A real "toot, whistle, plunk and boom" composition.

In the next one, I'm going to work in more body
noises. Knuckle cracks, things like that.

All sorts of thoughts went through my mind as I listened, such as "Sci-Fi" cinematic (too obvious) or is this truly an example of future music when tonality has been completely exhausted. My only concern was that with this type of intense composition, it takes a lot of concentration and focus to absorb it, so maybe it could be a tad shorter or broken into mvmts, or episodes. I recall that one of the "serialism" composers (Babbit,Berg,Krenek, Webern, et.al) wrote a symphony that had one movement that was just 11 measures long.

I agree (shorter). To my ear, about four-five minutes
of this sort of thing is three times more than plenty.

I rather view this more as soundscaping than music,
really... the rough equivalent of wind chimes, maybe.
Some is good, too much is cloying.

This genre' is very difficult for live players to perform with any degree of accuracy but now that we have computers and sequencers--Voila!
Let the dancing begin!

Steve

Accuracy? Steve! Who on earth would know one
way or the other... rofl?

Thanks for listening, my friend.

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Hi Trent,

Wow, the third new Sosnowski piece in a very short time. You sure belted this one out in a hurry.

In that this is more math than music, "composition" of
this kind doesn't take much time. Probably just an hour
or two spent fiddling with this.

This is, well, a bit far out there. Maybe a little frigid. Lots of interesting bits. I guess a minor work compared to some of the others you’ve done, but interesting none the less. I have no idea how I’m going to work “Pluto” into this, but I had to give it a try…..

I'll leave the dwarf planets for another day. Interesting
the impressions people get, though (frigid)... rather my
reaction, as well.

I guess in a loose sense, in that shaping the math behind
it is guided by more legitimate writing experience, one
could call this music. I caution not to read too much
into it, though -- no deep philosophical statements to be
found.

Actually, I do like it. A bit different from your usual work. The Steinway works very well here, as do the other instruments - not exactly sure what a few of the sounds are - electronic blips and treated gongs...

You know, darn thing is, as little regard as I have for
this kind of "writing"? I've got to admit, listening to this,
it kind of grows on you... there's sense and pattern and
mood to it, despite my intentions or lack of them.

Best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[Euler]

A curious piece - very whimsical with a lot of charm. The patterns seem just around the corner from being recognizable and bits do stick in one's memory. I like that the various instruments have their own space and don't get all muddled together.

I can see it being the background for an animation of little creatures (crickets, frogs, mice etc.) hopping about.

[rolifer]

Lest I forget: the basis for the piece...

If there is a Kuiper Belt, reasoned I, then
surely, there must be a pair of Kuiper's Trousers.

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

David

I would say this one is out past the Kuiper Trousers. Maybe closer to OORT's Thunderstorms?

Ron

[sosmus]

David:

I really take this kind of "writing" with a
glance askance.

We are definitely on the same page.

In the next one, I'm going to work in more body
noises. Knuckle cracks, things like that.

Be careful when dealing with "body noises."

This genre' is very difficult for live players to perform with any degree of accuracy but now that we have computers and sequencers--Voila!

Being a former road musician, dance band variety, I have always had reservations about this kind of music, as far as playability was concerned. Most of the composers I knew were fellow faculty but "pointy headed intellectuals" and never had actually played in a group. Most of them didn't even know what a part should look like. It was like solving a mathematical problem to them and they would get upset because players were balking at trying to perform this "stuff."
I also firmly believe that we need this type of musical exploration, if only to help us decide not to go there.
Steve