World fusion

13 MP3 Songs in this album (64:02) !
Related styles: WORLD: Japanese contemporary, AVANT GARDE: Computer Music



Details:
Chrysanthemum. The music on this CD was created, composed, and written using an Apple Power Book G4, Finale software composition program by Coda Music, Digital Performer recording program by MOTU, and a Roland Fantom XR synthesizer module (no keyboard).
The Finale program acts as a MIDI controller whereby the written score complete with dynamics is played through the synth module, recorded on Digital Performer, and burned to CD using a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-106D CD burner.
The genre is electronic experimental music, loosely defined as computers and music. The Fantom XR has 1200 preset sounds, including most orchestral acoustic instruments. It also has the capacity for 800 original sampled sounds. Music on Chrysanthemum exceeds the performing range of many of the acoustic instruments named in the various scores. The above listed equipment is more than a composerâs work station, it is a musical instrument unto itself. And so the beginning of the 21st Century is witness to the advent of a multitude of avant-garde electronic musical instruments. Some of these instruments are played or performed in real timeâthis particular instrument, the computer and synthesizer, allows a different use of time. Composing the music, writing the notes on a score, can take hundreds of hours to produce one hour of recorded music. The trend in computer technology is toward multi-media, and it begs the question, whatâs new? A great deal. And in the area of instrumental music, what is new and different? Ensemble combinations between acoustic and electronic instruments are boundless. This particular recording, however, is a solo recording, featuring the Fantom XR.
CD mastered at Command Productions, Sausalito, California. 32 bit mastering. Sound Engineer: Rob Dickson.
CD cover, Pink and Yellow Chrysanthemum, from an ink and color rendition on silk by Okamoto Shuki, Japan, 1807-1862.
Back photo: Vernon, British Columbia, Canada (taken by the composer)
Gary Michael Graves
August 13, 2005