Category Archives: Friday’s Soundings

Friday’s Sounding #11

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/sounding-11.mp3|titles=Sounding #11] This is the opening of a piece I composed in 1981 titled A Ray of Rattle, performed by The Performer’s Workshop Ensemble. The piece explores transforming a simple and pure sound, the octave, into a complex sound. As … Continue reading

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Friday’s Sounding #10

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26018625″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff5c00″ width=”100%” height=”81″ ] This is a short study of an attempt to create material for a drone based on multiple levels  of sound and how volume in one layer can take the ear away from the other … Continue reading

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Friday’s Sounding #9 (Anyone from Teaneck?)

The Lounge Pianist (2005) was originally for a vocalizing pianist. I arranged the piece for jazz trio (piano, drums and bass) and made a midi version. Here is the middle section: [audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/loungetriowaltz1.mp3|titles=The Lounge Pianist (Trio Version) Waltz Section]

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Friday’s Sounding #8

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Plexus.mp3|titles=Plexus] Plexus is a short piece (six minutes) for flute (doubling piccolo), harp, viola and cello.

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Friday’s Sounding #7

An excerpt from Silent Moon for orchestra that explores the mutable elasticity of sound. The inspiration for this piece was a part of Giacomo Leopardi’s poem Canto notturno di un pastore errante dell’ Asia: Soft and clear is the night and without wind, … Continue reading

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Friday’s Sounding #6

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Dissoloving_Images_ex.mp3|titles=Dissolving_Images (Excerpt)] This sound is the final dissolving image from Dissolving Images for solo piano, Lisa Moore is the pianist. Soon to be released on Albany Records.

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Friday’s Sounding #5

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/audio/two%20of%20cups%20ex.mp3|titles=Two of Cups (excerpt)] This is about 30 seconds from Two of Cups for clarinet and viola. The Two of Cups refers to the tarot card of the same name and represents partnerships and unions. Much like the Lovers card, … Continue reading

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Friday’s Sounding #4

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/audio/openingtolament.mp3|titles=Opening to Lament (excerpt)] This excerpt is from the opening of a work in progress entitled Lament a monodrama for lyric bass, bass clarinet, percussion, contrabass, female chorus and piano. The piece takes place in a Manhattan jazz club in … Continue reading

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Friday’s Sounding #3 (early edition): September 11, 2001-2011

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hymn-to-the-vanished-blog-1.mp3|titles=Hymn to the Vanished] Hymn to the Vanished performed by S.O.N.Y.C. (String Orchestra of New York City) at Wiell Recital Hall (at Carnegie Hall) in May 2002. The work is dedicated to those who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. … Continue reading

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Friday’s Sounding #2

[audio:https://www.markgustavson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Dust-Dance.mp3|titles=Dust Dance] Dust Dance is a 4 minute plus dance movement for orchestra.

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