Monday, March 29, 2010

I believe...

I just stumbled upon a forgotten project from the Rockefeller Center in one of my sketchbooks. It's a series of mural designs illustrating John D. Rockefeller, Jr. quotation as inscribed on the plaque by the skating rink. I absolutely love this quote. Here's an excerpt to go with this design:
"I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should be as good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-is of supreme worth."

Drawing Music :: So Percussion

A few nights ago, my friends and I went to Carnegie Hall for an evening with So Percussion quartet. The first piece they played was by my most favorite contemporary classics composer, Steve Reich: "Drumming, part 1". It was hard to believe that what we heard was written 40 years ago...it still sounds groundbreaking. The other two compositions were premieres, utilizing most unusual "things" as sound-making devices.

"Drumming, part 1": The four drummers syncopate on snare drums in unison for almost 20 minutes, weaving crisp sound patterns.





Harvesing sounds from all kinds of instruments.









The 4 musicians kept moving around the stage from one instrument to the next, as if the stage was their living room. At some point, they opened a box with wind-up toys and let those buzz about. Then, a bunch of alarm clocks appeared, sounding off at precise moments to add to harmonies. Everyday objects, so nicely integrated into the composition "It Is Time" by STEVEN MACKEY (World Premiere, commissioned by Carnegie Hall), reminded me of Robert Rauschenberg's collages with found objects.


Sunday, March 14, 2010

Drawing Music :: Kronos Quartet

Kronos Quartet with guests from around the world at Carnegie Hall tonight played the most exciting and moving world music I have ever heard live. Some instruments were aggregates never seen, or maybe well-forgotten pieces from two centuries ago, now used with digital extensions.

Ritva Koistinen
on Finland's national instrument, the kantele — a large wood zither with a bell-like sound, performing Arvo Part. *not iPhone drawing



Musician from the duo Hurdy Gurdy, a side project of Swedish folk-rock band Garmarna.
The group's namesake is a 16-stringed, fiddle-like instrument controlled by a primitive keyboard, which some modern musicologists have dubbed "the medieval synthesizer."



My personal favorite of the night, Kimmo Pohjonen
(on stage with percussionist), one of the most respected and in-demand musicians and performers in Finland. He's an accordionist playing extreme and original compositions, intertwined with live loops and effects.




Kronos Quartet & Tanya Tagaq
(Inuit throat singer)
New York premiere of Tundra Songs by Canadian composer Derek Charke.




Drawn on my iPhone

*performers info and descriptions taken from here

Monday, March 8, 2010

Happy March 8th, Ladies!

As the saying goes, "Behind every great man there's a great woman". Today is March 8th, The International Women's Day. Cheers to all the women out there.





Drawn on my iPhone

Monday, March 1, 2010