Track My Progress - Man and His Cymbals

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Man and His Cymbals

August 2007

Man and His Cymbals is nearing completion. The first two sections are done, leaving just the last groove section stating Theme B. My study of the Indian rhythm on my synthesizer inspired an uneven, lopsided rhythm sounding on different beats of the measure in the middle percussion section. Quantizing on the computer enabled me to find and evaluate possibilities for phasing a tom-tom rhythm, i.e., starting it on beat 1, then beat 2 in later measures, etc. I learned about phasing from listening to Steve Reich's music and first experimented with it in East of the River. I'm very pleased with the results this time - some very interesting cross-rhythms resulted.

Here's a sample that lets you hear the lopsided rhythm and phasing changeover.

May 2007

Man and His Cymbals will have the following structure -

	a rock 'n' roll groove section stating Theme A
	a development section where percussion is layered in cross-rhythms and interacts with melodic fragments in various ways
	another groove section with more forces stating Theme B

I usually write a lot of counterpoint, but this time what's happening is harmony. I kept hearing what I thought were repeated sequences that I could use to continue the melody, but then I realized they worked much better as harmony. I used to sing in harmony to tunes as a kid, so this is sort of reclaiming a forgotten part of my natural musicality.

Also, I finally figured out how to use the 'quantize' feature of my sequencing software, which enables me to be more precisely on the beat and experiment with moving things around.

Here's the drum 'n' bass for the first groove section.

April 2007

My next piece continues the Jung Again Suite. This much has been decided -

	it will primarily be a percussion piece
	it will be entitled 'Man and His Cymbals' (get it?)

I'm in a study period now, which I usually do before writing something new. This time, I'm looking at -

	rhythms and the use of percussion in Osvaldo Golijov's Grammy-winning Ainadamar
	how Debussy orchestrates a melody and achieves 'clockwork' effects in his symphonic work Images
	an uneven rhythm from India on my synthesizer
	rhythms I've used previously in the Suite (to tie it all together)

Here's a rhythm I'm considering.