Breathing the Water (2,2,2,2;2,2,2,0;1 perc (no timp),pno;strings), 14 min., 2004.
CHAMBER:
Hurricane Charm (two pianos and two percussionists), 20 min., in progress. Commissioned by Shirley Yoo along with Stephen Buck and members of So Percussion. Trompe l'oeil (wind quintet), 10 min., 2008. Commissioned by Quintet Attacca. Saturn (flute, violin, percussion, accordion), 4 min., 2008. Composed for the Sonar Ensemble and the New York Miniaturist Ensemble. blades (female voice & cello; video projection), 8 min., 2007. Commissioned by cellist/singer Victoria Bass as a solo piece, may be performed as solo or duo; to be paired with video (in progress). Some Details of Hell (soprano, alto flute, clarinet, piano, cello), 13 min., 2006. Based on a poem by Lucie Brock-Broido. h.àt. (homage à dr. teriwilliker) (piano, 10 hands), 4 min., 2006. An ICE commission. Stillness and Occurrence (flute (picc.), ob, cl, hn, tpt, tbn, vn I, vn II, vla, vc, cb), 15 min., 2005. Based on this photograph by the Scottish photographer David Williams. Hazmats Sextet (flute (alto, piccolo), clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, cello), 7 min., 2005. Castles in the Sky (two violas and toy piano), 2 min., 2004. (I am happy to bring a toy piano to perform this piece with anyone who asks). Taste Sensation (oboe and cello), 6 min., 2003. A CUBE commission (referenced in this article on "New Music Box"). Dance Music (for amplified flute and electric guitar), 4 min., 2000. L’EDGE (for string quartet), 10 min., 1999. Anna Liffey, song cycle, text by Eavan Boland (for mezzo-soprano and piano), 28 min., 1999.
SOLO:
Introspection 10,824 (7-string electric violin), 8 min., 2008 blades (female voice & cello; video projection), 8 min., 2007. Commissioned by cellist/singer Victoria Bass as a solo piece, may be performed as solo or duo; to be paired with video (in progress). Requests (solo piano), 4 min., 2003. Commissioned by Amy Dissanayake; soon to be released on a CD recorded by Amy Dissanayake.
Influences
Aphex Twin, Béla Bartók, Bauhaus, Harrison Birtwistle, Bjork, Chemical Brothers, Chen Yi, George Crumb, Morton Feldman, P.J. Harvey, Laika, György Ligeti, Gustav Mahler, Massive Attack, Olivier Messiaen, Thelonious Monk, Nine Inch Nails, Parlaiment, Danilo Perez, Radiohead, David Rakowski, Maurice Ravel, Steve Reich, R.E.M., Kaija Saariaho, Giacinto Scelsi, Bent Sørensen, Toru Takemitsu, Talking Heads, Augusta Read Thomas, Jukka Tiensuu, Tricky, Ken Ueno, Claude Vivier, Olly Wilson, Iannis Xenakis, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Sounds Like
Dramatic. Experimental new sounds with long melodies and drone-based stases alternating with funk/punk grooves in asymmetrical and changing meters. Give a listen and let me know what you think.
My music is about exploding boundaries in the continuing search for transcendence. These metamorphoses manifest themselves through the physical instrumentation, the musical development of material and the dramatic through-line of the compositions. I envision a pitch-universe inclusive of all aesthetics, where the common ground between spectrally-based bell tones and tonal consonances is highlighted and juxtaposed with non-tonal pitch sets and crunchy dissonances. Throughout my music, natural phenomena are reflected in melodies reminiscent of bird calls and in pulsing yet unpredictable rhythms similar to tidal wave patterns. Disjointed moments of pure sound coalesce into regions of clarity defined by funk-style grooves or long sinuous melodies. I seek to create works with a high degree of energy gleaned from my early avidity for experimental post-punk goth and progressive musicians like Bauhaus, Joy Division and Brian Eno, which inspired my interest in art music. The drama of performance and narration is always foremost in my mind, reflecting my years working in theater as a director, producer and stagehand. My deep love for the visual arts has led me to collaborate on multi-media installation works.
Previously he taught music theory as Visiting Assistant Professor at Ohio University; and music composition, history and theory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University—where he was nominated for a Roosevelt Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching—and at the Merit School of Music. He has also taught at the University of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, the Birch Creek Music Performance Center and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony Workshops. He received an M.M. degree from the Peabody Conservatory, a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, where he received the Century Fellowship, the highest fellowship offered by the Humanities Division. His composition teachers have included Shulamit Ran, Marta Ptaszynska, David Rakowski (I highly recommend this webpage), Robert Hall Lewis, Ronald Caltabiano, and Richard Wernick.
David - What a wonderfully Lynchian picture! Lynch would have used a red lampshade, but still, the thoroughly surreal, vaguely terrifying quality is there!
Dear David: Thanks for the add. I liked the colorful instrumentation and narrative linear gestures in the pieces you've posted. Wonder what you would think of some of things on my site. Looking forward to hearing more of your work - gil.
But, hey. How come the ACLU gets top friends status, but no Russ? Did you ever play tennis with the ACLU? Huh? (o.k., I guess you can't call what I did actually playing tennis, but hey, I thought I had some cred.) LOL
Thanks for including me in your group of friends. I really like your artist statement about your aesthetic. Mixing up these energies of different musics is the way to go! Bravo!
i don't know if i EVER told you that i like your music, but, i like your music. also, please arrange "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton for woodwind quintet. that's all.
oh yes. i definitely think it was worth it. i cant get enough of this album right now. i just like how stripped down it is, so cool. plus ive been waiting for them to write a song that would rival 'motion picture soundtrack' off kid a, and i think they did it with 'videotape'.
overall i give it a 9 out of 10 on the 'gnarly' scale.
We are recent my space friends. I am writing to thank you for befriending me.
By the way, I'm going to be in New York Oct 25-28 for the Jazz Improv Live Convention and Festival being held at the New Yorker Hotel. I'll be at booth 324. Stop by, if you can.
I'm also taking ads for the program. Taking an ad would be a great opportunity to reach the 80,000 visitors expected to visit my booth. Check out the price list in my blog and let me know if you are interested.
Mr. Smooke!!!! You are the man, the music on your profile sounds great! I just moved in at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign as a music education major. It's so great to hear from you, you shame me into re-doubling my efforts at my own compositions (it's been so busy lately!). Please, let me know how you are, how wildly successful you've been and what you're doing now. *waiting for reply*
All is well here in Portsmouth. The school has been amazing - though I don't compose as much as I'd like. Had a premiere of a new choral work last November. Recorded some jazz/pop stuff this past February. Mostly administrative work, a little teaching, and some performing. How is all with you?
thanks for the add...i thought you were from athens greece and i cooment you in greek..very nice music...the first song is the style that i want to play someday...very good..you have very clear play ..do you have any cd for sale?
