AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Yeah, if such a symposium were happening in New Zealand, you know I'd be there.


--- On Tue, 2/24/09, Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...> wrote:

> From: Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...>
> Subject: Re: [Aetherphon] Re:Hands Off 2009 - Big News
> To: aetherphon@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 6:11 PM
> Carvin - that is the perfect call to arms! Thank you. :-)
> 
> Also great to hear your story - when people write about
> stuff that  
> genuinely excites them it comes through and its a bit
> contagious.
> 
> Gordon
> 
> On 25 Feb 2009, at 01:21, carvin knowles wrote:
> 
> > Yeah, you can count me into that "Middle
> Field" space too.
> >
> > I'm glad for all you classical Thereminist, who
> help ad that kind  
> > of validity to our instrument. To be certain, you guys
> help ensure  
> > that the instrument will be studied by the
> "serious music"  
> > community. I started out my life as a
> "serious" composer, with a  
> > back-catalogue of dissonant orchestral works, so I get
> it.
> >
> > But when I took up the theremin, it was to use an
> instrument where  
> > I had no classical technique, to play something
> appropriate with my  
> > DJ friends, while they played Drum and Bass and House
> and Electro.  
> > Sure, I can play in tune, but my technique would make
> Clara  
> > Rockmore cringe. I play melodies. Riffs. Motifs.
> Fragments of  
> > suggested orchestrations that trace the chord changes
> in some  
> > dramatic way. I use long sweeps to carry one mix into
> another, I  
> > create trills that widen into several octaves, I make
> bleeps and  
> > noises that would make George Crumb proud.
> >
> > (Speaking of Crumb, some of you classical-heads should
> arrange a  
> > performance of "Vox Bellanae" sometime. It
> is sure to bring our art  
> > forward, if you use it in such a "modernist"
> ensemble)
> >
> > But my point is that as a Middle Field Thereminista,
> my style would  
> > probably be called Electronic Jazz (a few years back I
> even played  
> > at the House of Blues, New Orleans). I think I 'm
> with that part of  
> > the Middle Field which makes the theremin socially
> relevant. The  
> > way that Eric Satie performed in the Salons of Paris.
> The way that  
> > Jazz took root in the brothels and underground dance
> clubs of New  
> > Orleans and New York before it went mainstream.
> >
> > And yes, I also love the classical guys...and the
> novelties and the  
> > academics and the headbangers. I can't get enough
> theremin, pretty  
> > or ugly or funny. Just play the damn thing.
> >
> > And that is kinda the deal with a convention of this
> sort. The  
> > "Middle Field" needs to show up and
> represent. It's you guys who  
> > should be putting together the afterparties. The Jam
> sessions. It's  
> > a convention, so bust out your cool stuff. Besides, if
> you learn  
> > anything from the classical guys, you'll want to
> use it right away.
> >
> > Peace
> >
> > Carvin
> 
> 
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