16 October 03 (SH 006)
$8 (postage paid in the US, please add $3 for international orders)
Recorded live at Ballet Austin Academy - October 16, 2003
Brent Fariss - contrabass
Jacob Green - piano and electronics
Holland Hopson - banjo and electronics
Josh Ronsen - clarinet and piano
Bill Thompson - electronics
Travis Weller - violin and electronics
The Gates Ensemble is an electro-acoustic ensemble formed in September 2001 to realize the piece Gates, for which the ensemble was eventually named. The piece involved free improvisation within the context of strict entrance and exit times. Since its inception, Gates has had a somewhat fluid membership. As of the time of this recording, Gates consisted of Brent Fariss, Jacob Green, Holland Hopson, Bill Thompson, Josh Ronsen, and Travis Weller. Past members have included David Drew, Afshar Kharat, Clark Crawford, and others.
Reinforce one another, Conditions for contraction is a graphic score for six improvisers with six sound producing devices. The primary compositional focus for this piece is form and improvisational interaction. The six performers are given graphic instructions to create sound events at specific times (measured by chronometers). Each sound event has a degree of "density" (how the sounds embodying the event relate to silence) and "consistency" (how the sounds embodying the event relate to each other). Since no instructions for pitch, timbre, and loudness are given, the performers improvise between the boundaries of stability and space with the goal of spontaneous musical collaboration.
Reviews
"...fluent and imaginative, sustained electronic drones and whines weaving among dramatic instrumental clusters." - The Wire
Two extended pieces of group-improvisation from an ensemble from Austin, Texas.
As the title indicates the recordings are made a few years ago, but now they found their way to the audience through Spectral House, an independent label based in Austin focusing on modern experimental music. In 2002 the ensemble released their first CD on this label in a very limited edition. The ensemble was formed in 2001 and is specialized in electro-acoustic music. The first piece 'Reinforce one another, conditions for contraction' is a graphic score by Travis Weller (violin, computer). "The six performers are given graphic instructions to create sound events at specific times. Each sound event has a degree of 'density' and 'consistency'. Since no instructions for pitch, timbre, and loudness are given, the performers improvise between the boundaries of stability and space with the goal of spontaneous musical collaboration." Besides Weller we hear: Brent Fariss (contrabass, electronics), Jacob Green (piano on first track, sampler), Holland Hopson (banjo!, computer), Josh Ronsen (clarinet, piano on second track), Bill Thompson (computer, electronics). All musicians are involved with the Austin New Music Co-Op. The second piece as an untitled improvisation that I liked even more. It's a very dynamic and impressive improvisation that has more soul then the first piece. Both pieces were recorded live at the Ballet Austin Academy. Alas the recording sound as if there was only one microphone on stage. But both pieces make clear that these six improvisers are great musicians who are able to produce some cohesive music in their explorations of pure sound. Careful listening is demanded and rewarded. If you want a point of reference, I would say they belong to the tradition that started with AMM. On the other hand, with their organized improvisations they shake hands with people like Butch Morris or John Zorn. (Dolf Mulder) - Vital Weekly #509