Experimental Composer Seeks Core Group

BGFlynn

Experimental Composer Seeks Core Group
I'm Looking to form an Avant Populist Instrumental Group, any takers?

I am a student of music in my final year. I am looking to form a modern ensemble. I have played in a number of groups but have found them to be too dissonant blinkered often dull and bound in red tape.

My background is actually in experimental rock and popular music of a Frank Zappa/Brian Eno sort of ilk but I draw equally from experimental classical (Reich, Glass, Messiaen, Birtwistle, Nancarrow etc..). I am not one of these guys that relies on purely improvised elements (I still value a melody). Fact is, I enjoy using processes such as canons, generative and other weird stuff and combining it with populist elements.

You have to be able to read music (a little anyhow or at least have a good ability to learn parts from a recording/charts/tab) but I'm not Boulez, I like to see my idea through to the end as I imagine it but I am quite open to input.

It will be an interesting experience playing my stuff as it can be challenging and expressive (one element would be improvisation closer to the rock ideal, i.e. over a set backdrop). I haven't felt particularly comfortable performing in some classical venues (I play guitar mostly which renders me mentally deficient by most classical people's yardstick) as it can be a bit stuffy, the audience is not encouraged to express themselves and are intimidated to the point that they believe the junk they are sometimes subjected to is over there heads when in fact it is just junk.

Anyhow, I am open to every kind of player (my stuff is very malleable) and instruments, percussive/electronic/stringed/wind etc. I would really enjoy a mix between jazz, classical and rock musicians. Often rock musicians underestimate their worth in a group such as the one I'm proposing and feel they would be overshadowed (and patronised) by those with classical knowledge. Remember my background was rock (and actually metal originally when I was a teenager) I studied classical music at third level so that I might learn to write my ideas down. Now that I have that skill I wish to exploit it (and your skills!).

Of course I would love to form a large group (10 players plus) but in the past I found this to be impractical. Instead I want to form a core unit of about 5 or 6 players and bring in auxiliaries where required so people are welcome to inquire if they only want to take part on occasion.

The material performed will be primarily my own (and my own arrangements of existing music) but I would enjoy playing pieces by other composers within the group. The group will largely instrumental but should vocalist be interested they are very welcome as auxiliaries.

Of course I know that the blend of instrumentation is just as important as the music itself and it is most likely that rehersal time will mostly consist of experienting with that aspect.

That's about it for now. Perhaps I should like a megalomaniac but ask yourself, isn't that what a mature group needs. I have been in many bands for years (I am now 29) and found it creatively and expressively unrewarding. Any of you who have been in a group will know the pain of playing the same thing over and over so that someone can 'jam' the right bass line or whatever only to forget it by the next time. I believe in maximising time spent together as a group and believe in proposing projects and pieces that are complete whilst leaving the right places free for the instrumentalists (you) to let loose.

What's in it for you? I dunno, but if you like the idea of getting on stage, be it in a stinking rock venue or the national gallery and playing accomplished, challenging (but not hard for the sake of it) and original music then let me know. One thing I don't want is to promise anything but nor do I plan to waste your time. You only have to go to a few gigs to realise the interest a group would like this would have based purely on its unconventional instrumentation regardless of the quality of music so I am confident that gigs would not be a problem. Any money made is yours as much as mine (after expenses). I also have the technical means to record and would very much enjoy that aspect.


I believe it is possible to be in a group and not have to give up your whole life to do it. In fact, if done right, a five hour session with players who read is roughly equal to a lifetime with any rock outfit I've been invovled with but I admit we were pretty lousy.


I am not at all fussy about the age etc.. of players, come one, come all.


Think it over,

BGF

p.s. I probably should have said this already but I have a myspace which has some stuff on it (I change the material as I work on new things) and pictures of yours truely etc.

www.myspace.com/briangflynn

p.p.s. I would be glad to meet anyone if time allows but should say I am in the last few months of my music degree so it may take a little time while to get it all together but when we start it will be swift and steady (I want to come out of that sucker swinging.)

joergecat

hi man
Sound good to me, im bassed in dublin and im playing 5 string fretless bass {like to buy fret bass as well }. I like any kind of music. JAzz funk ,not rock but rock like messugha, king crimson etc... . I like play with different instruments as i like to play silence, just listening what going around.
Im kinda perfectionist as well whitch is sometimes usefull.

however this is what i was looking for....

tonyhiggins

Where are you based? not Galway if studying music I'm guessing, but Galway is where I am. I'm a drummer, into jazz, rock and improv.

www.myspace.com/roadsignsofourage

booth

I'm living in Dundrum and love creating music, everything from rock songs to soundscapes. I listen to everything I can get my hands on and wish to encompass all genres and styles of music in what I create. I play an ESP Horizon FRII electric and a Takamine acoustic.

Influences: Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Squarepusher, Duke Ellington, Fela Kuti....the list is endless.

Oh and I can read music and understand music theory ;-)

Jpof

Sounds brilliant.

I've been playing piano for years and I just read that you rehearse in blackrock, which would suit me very well. Played jazzy jazz, weird jazz, drunk jazz and proggy kind of shtuff.

And I can read music... love the stuff on your myspace!

jpoflynn{at}gmail.com

Samos

This sounds very interesting... I'm fascinated by exprerimental, classical, jazz and electronic music so it's right up my alley!

Mostly I play piano and trumpet, but other brass instruments and keyboards are a possibility. Drop me a message and let me know if you still going ahead with this. Thanks!

thegreatholdini

Hi

I live in the Dun Laoghaire area and play the following (some still learning but reasonably proficient):

Guitar - Electric, Lap Steel
Bass (duh!)
Hammered Dulcimer
Erhu
Morin Khuur
Stylophone
Xaphoon

I own a good range of gear and have a free rehearsal space in the Grainstore Youth Arts Centre (http://myspace.com/grainstore); amps, PA, etc etc there (see the pics). I used to play in a band with Garrett Sholdice who attended Trinity music, you know of him? If you want to send a line to shaneholden@gmail.com I'll get back to you and discuss what you would be into doing, Im very much into experimental music but with a focus on melody (none of that random mess that can occur when people just try to be 'too' different), and integration of ethnic instrumentation is a biggy for me.

Setun

Are people still interested in this idea??

I've organised a kind of musical collective of sorts similar to what the OP mentioned - with a few central players then a mob of other musicians who played on specific projects/gigs. In the past the has been on jazz but now I'm getting more into experimental sounds and would like to jam with some other like minds. Random influences: Eno's ambient work, Thelonious Monk, Coltrane, Dolphy, John Cage, Susumu Yokota, Rothko, John Abercrombie...
If anyone's interested PM me, hopefully BGF will return to boards to check this thread also.

Oh yeah btw I play tenor saxophone, flute, and some piano, and have good musical understanding.

John

Where you based Daddio?

Setun

Wicklow/Dublin region.

We're a relatively young group: between 18 and 20 I think at the moment. There's a double bass player, drummer, some guitarists/ a vocalist who come and go for gigs/jams and the like, a piano player, an electric bassist, and a few others who are interested in doing something but don't play any instruments per se. Each musician has a specialty in some area (be it jazz/ blues/ funk/ compositional work etc.) but all are quite versatile and open minded.

John

Sounds interesting. You got any gigs planned?

Setun

Not soon due to people being away etc, but we're probs going to record some music in the next two weeks or so. They're original compositions, in a kind of Jazz idiom. I can send you a link to them when they're done and you can see what you think then?

John

Sure, I'd love to have a listen

markw999

Vocalist/ Keyboard player/ maker of odd computer music (which might appeal to you the most with this set-up) would love to have a jam with ye if ye were up for it.

My email is markw999@gmail.com and I am 24 and live in South Dublin