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Sketches from the Machine Gun Concerto
at the Translator Lab
July 23, 2011 - 7:00 PM
Sketches from the Machine Gun
Concerto is the first of a number of ‘views’ of a double concerto for
harpsichord, contrabass and chamber orchestra. These ‘views’ will
utilize various media and performance scenaria in order to uncover
hidden musical and metaphorical angles. The work takes as it’s point
of departure the melodic line of the inimitable Machine Gun, by Jimi
Hendrix.
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Join performers Rachel Icenogle, Alex Stewart, Cindy Covelli, Victor De Lorenzo, Jason Wietlispach, Janet Schiff, and Steven White (with more to come) as well as video artists Scott Johnson and Melissa Musante, and art activist Valerie J. Christell at The Translator Lab, on July 23rd, 2011. The room will activate at 7:00 P.M. The performance will begin at 8:00 P.M. The Translator Lab is located at 415 E. Menomonee Street.
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The Machine Gun Concerto, for harpsichord, contrabass, and a chamber orchestra is a work that takes the inimitable simplicity of the Jimi Hendrix tune, ‘Machine Gun’ - essentially D blues played for a long time - combined with a complex musical and social narrative; specifically, the Vietnam war, civil rights, and the violent protests in the streets across America, and uses it as a vehicle to chronicle this generation’s entry into Afghanistan, Iraq, and the nightmare that is this trillion dollar a year war on terror. It is a musical offering of a social statement - a collective experience of consciousness addressing a current predicament that touches all of our lives. The sections of the work, 11 in all, follow their own internal narrative, and then, I place them squarely (some pun intended) in the concert hall.
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In my usual way of working on large scale pieces, I will be taking a look
at sketches of the work through a miniature lens, as well as through
additional interdisciplinary filters. Structural improvisation, visual
representations of the unspoken narrative, audio sculptures, and a more
intimate relationship with the audience will serve to unearth other
components of the work that I might overlook when I compose a work for the
concert hall.
It is a great pleasure to be joined by art activist
Valerie J. Christell http://www.vjchristell.net/, who will hang a special selection of works
relevant to the ongoing Pro Peace/Anti War effort. Her artwork
expresses the energy inherent in and between everything and everyone and
explores the results of humans interacting with each other and their
environment. Her social statement pieces are currently created in photo
collage where figures interact with and reflect what they uneasily
exist with. I am also joined by filmmakers and musicians Melissa
Musante and Scott Johnson. In the true spirit of improvisation, both
Scott and Melissa have been presented audio “loops” and have improvised
film/video pieces that are thematically related, yet operate
tangentially during the performance. http://www.marnonline.com/
Most importantly, the spiritual connection with The Translator Lab
http://www.translatordigitalcafe.com/
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from the people and the unique and dynamic physical space, to the energy
and aesthetic, will provide the perfect vehicle to complete the
realization of this interpretation. Mark Fairbanks, a partner, and
Chief Aesthetic Officer at Translator says, ‘...Translator is an
experience design firm located in the Third Ward focused on helping
brands build relationships with their consumers both online and offline.
Translator uses a refreshing co-creation approach with their clients,
helping them connect the dots to develop better brand stories. The
Experience Series was created to celebrate and promote creativity and
innovation in all genres.”
He’s right!
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NEW CD...
available now!
to order, go to CURRENT PROJECTS; ORDER CD
Or visit:
Woodland Pattern Book Center
Milwaukee WI
www.woodlandpattern.org
Machine Gun 7.23.11
Sketches from the Machine Gun Concerto is, hopefully, the first of a number of ‘views’ of a double concerto for harpsichord, contrabass and chamber orchestra, that will grace the Milwaukee area in the future. These ‘views’ will utilize various media and performance scenaria in order to uncover hidden musical and metaphorical angles. The works takes as it’s point of departure the melodic line of the inimitable Machine Gun, by Jimi Hendrix.
Join performers Rachel Icenogle, Alex Stewart, Cindy Covelli, Victor DeLorenzo, Jason Wietlispach, Janet Schiff, and Steven White (with more to come) as well as video artists Scott Johnson and Melissa Musante, and art activist Valerie J. Christell at the Translator Lab on July 23rd, 2011. The room will activate at 7:00 P.M., and the performance will begin at 8:00 P.M. The Translator Lab is located at 415 E. Menomonee Street.
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