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Composition

  • Citron
  • Granulator II
  • Macht I
  • Passing Girl

These four pieces are representative of my current compositional projects.

Citron is representative of my current compositional project, in which I use works I have previously recorded as source material. I use decontextualized samples to create unstable, polyrhythmic textures. In composing Citron, my goal was to remove the narrative from the original work and allow the sampled sounds to exist freely in their newly created sonic context.

Granulator II was written using Robert Henke’s granular synthesis tool in M4L. This piece is part of a larger stage show with percussionist and composer Brian Shank that will debut in 2022.

Passing Girl was conceived from a conversation with percussionist Clara Warnaar, a colleague of mine from Bridge Arts Ensemble. After spending time in New Mexico, she became interested in how New Age music was perceived in “serious music” communities. She asked me to write a piece based on my conception of New Age music, and this was the result. It was released on the compilation album A New Age for New Age Vol. 2.

Macht I was composed using samples of multiphonics and extreme upper-partial harmonics on the cello. This piece is the predecessor to Citron, in that it uses samples from a work I was recording for another purpose. The source audio for Macht I was recorded on Shure SM58 microphones propped up with hotel towels while on tour, and the imperfections of this recording environment can be heard.

Performance

Symphoniacs

  • Sky Full of Stars
  • Faded
  • Titanium

Symphoniacs is an electro-classical project based in Berlin. Performance highlights include an appearance on Germany’s Next Top Model, a performance for nearly 700,000 people at the countdown to the New Year at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and tours of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Symphoniacs has 140,000+ subscribers across social media platforms, and our videos have more than 23 million views on YouTube.

Zohn Collective

  • Sandburg Songs (Albany Records)
  • Comala (Trailer)
  • Comala Teatro Degollado

Zohn Collective is dedicated to the performance of contemporary art music. The ensemble is comprised of nine members and seeks to build strong relationships that lead to collaboration with other artists, organizations, and the communities they serve. Zohn Collective has in this way generated new compositions, staged productions, educational opportunities, and novel designs of informational and archival media surrounding performances (programs, videos, etc.). Among their collaborators are celebrated cartoonist Jose Ignacio Solorzano (“Jis”), puppet company La Coperacha, eminent poet Irving Feldman, multi-disciplinary artist Deidre Huckabay and videographer José Camacho.

Zohn Collective released its first CD under the Oberlin Music label in 2018 and recently released their second with Albany Records. The group has attracted support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mid Atlantic Foundation, New Music USA, the Ditson Fund, and the Paul Judy Center for Innovation and Research, among others. Upcoming projects include residencies at the Beijing Modern Music Festival and at Vanderbilt University.

Design

Neumann KM84 Project

The goal of this project was to create a matched pair of small cardioid condenser microphones based on the design of Neumann’s KM84. I used PCBs made by a colleague in the DIY community, and otherwise modeled the microphones on the original design. I used brass body tubes and nickel plated them using an electro plating process. In testing and early use, the microphones have performed excellently. I will have access to original Neumann KM84s in late winter 2022, and I will perform comparative tests at that time.

  • Components laid out
  • Another view of all the components
  • A third view of all the components
  • Spool holder
  • I installed a ground point to ground myself before handling sensitive components
  • Signal-inject cable (T+S to pos. R to neg.)
  • Trimmed alligator clips
  • Work Bench
  • Final components
  • Stuffed PCB 1
  • Stuffed PCB 2
  • Stuffed PCB 3
  • Stuffed PCB 4
  • Calibrating FETs
  • Preparing nickel acetate for electro-plating. I used a 5V phone charger, and added alligator clips to the leads
  • Warming the nickel acetate to 120F
  • Nickel plating
  • Bare bronze on the left, and plated bronze on the right
  • Another view of the plated and unplated microphone bodies
  • Preparing the carrying case
  • Cutting foam inserts
  • Measuring the placement of the microphones and accessories
  • Completed carrying case
  • First test.

Klark Teknik Bucket Brigade Delay Mod Project

  • Series bridge 1N4148 and 56k metal film (image from Tony Allgood)
  • KT 3rd Dimension and Roland Dimension D (image from Amazona.de)

I am modifying a Klark Teknik 3rd Dimension BBD to match the delay times of the original Roland Dimension D, based on work done by Tony Allgood.

Summary of changes:

MODE 1 – increase delay range of 3.8ms – 7.1ms to 8ms – 12ms
MODE 2 – increase delay range of 3.7ms – 8.5ms to 5ms – 10ms
MODE 3 – increase delay range of 4.7ms – 7.6ms to 6ms – 9ms

Methods:

  1. Change R87 and R128 from 5k1 to 12k 1% 0603 resistors [Modes 2, 3 and 4]
  2. Insert 1n4148 diode and 56k 1% metal film resistor in series from wiper of Mode 1 (pin 6) switch to lower pad of R87. Repeat for R128. [Should result in delay times of 7.6ms – 10.4ms in Mode 1]
  3. Replace R100 and R109 with 2k7 0402 1% thick film resistors [increase modulation depth in Mode 1]
  4. Change C70 and C95 to 150pF 2% COG 0603
  5. Change R86 and R121 to 12k 1% 0402
  6. Change R88 and R122 to 3k3 1% 0402