OME ZINE New Music. Breathing Composers. Phoenix, AZ.
Vol 1, Issue 3 Dec/Jan 2014/15 In this issue... We Need to Talk Epic Maker Event Postponed Dec/Jan Concert Calendar Nathan Hubbard is pretty sweet Composer/Performer  Winter Mixer Plans for the 2015 MARATHON Something Fun
Hey, I guess this is technically a letter from the editor. I need your help. Your assistance, opinion. I want this Zine (which I see turning into a larger publication at some point) and OME to be a place where Phoenicians and Arizonans can share their thoughts about new music. My (extremely vague) definition of new music is music written by a person who is still alive (or recently departed) and is writing from a place that has some influence by modern musical philosophical thought. You don't have to have a masters in whatever to know about John Cage or Philip Glass. And as modern philosophies, styles, technologies and their applications are numerous and ever-evolving, so will my perception and promotion of various new musics. I need help finding and compiling concerts with new music. This is why the OME Facebook page is a wreck right now- I usually hear about concerts only days before. This seems to be a common issue. There is a need for a central calendar for new music- but it can't happen if ensemble, organization, and school calendars are constantly out of date. EX: There is an active ensemble in Phoenix who has not updated their website since 2011. WTF?!? I've set up a new email address events@ohmyears.com so if you have a concert, heard about a concert, think there might be a concert you can LET ME KNOW. Email or post it on the OME Facebook page (facebook.com/ohmyears). Right now, I'm not able to find all the information I need via internet searches alone. I would like to continue these bi-monthly calendars and add a weekly list of concerts, distributed digitally. I need your assistance. I am not trying to imply that typing a bit every other month is hard work. At this point it's just discouraging. And having only one person's opinion guiding this thing isn't fair to you. If you are interested in helping at all- concert reviews, opinion articles, events you think OME should tackle- let me know at editor@ohmyears.com Right now I feel that OME is a self-serving venture, and I don't want it to be. I want to promote YOUR music, your ensemble when you tackle new music, and give you options for a better audience experience in Phoenix. When we get that rolling, then maybe we can hit the hard stuff: public funding for the arts, raising appropriate commissioning funds, grants, to 503(c) or not to 503(c), can we please get Kronos and Laurie Anderson to perform Landfall in Phoenix, 15 reasons to not have Trader Joe's wine after your concert...
Thanks, elizabeth kennedy bayer
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The EPIC MAKER INSTRUMENT CHALLENGE Has been postponed until next year. OME will be working with teachers and maker spaces more closely to make sure the event is a success. If you are interested in helping with the Epic Challenge next year, please email events@ohmyears.com Subject: Epic Maker Challenge The event was (and still will be similar to): -Build an instrument -Perform on instrument -Win awesome prizes This event was also going to serve as the primary fundraiser for the 2015 OME Marathon Concert. If you have ideas for smaller, alternate fundraisers, please email events@ohmyears.com If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to OME, search for us on Fractured Atlas, or go to ohmears.com/sponsors If you created an instrument specifically for the event, please let OME know. We'd like to make it up to you. Also email events@ohmyears.com Subject: Epic Maker Challenge
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NEW MUSIC December 2014 MORf: McCLINTOCK ORCHESTRA REMIX FUSION Tuesday, Nov. 25th, 7p, McClintock High School, Tempe
Concert will be held on the McClintock High School Campus in Boyle Auditorium. Vassilios Miltiades Makavos, Mrs. Doreen Press; McClintock High School Orchestra Director, and Tanner (T-Nan) Ninke; DJ/Electronic producer are proud to present: MORf. The MHS Orchestras will be performing classical pieces (i.e.Mozart) remixed with electronics and percussion, as well as original contemporary music written for the McClintock Orchestras by Vassili and TNan. This is a prequel to an up and coming bigger project: PHORETE (Phoenix Orchestral Remix Educational Transformation Enterprise).
MUSIC IN CHANGING PARTS Saturday, Nov. 29, 7:30p, Trunk Space, Phoenix It's Philip Glass. Just go. Even if you don't like Philip Glass.
JAZZ PERCUSSION RECITAL: SCOTT GLEASON Thursday, Dec 4, 7:30p, The Nash, Phoenix Thelonious Monk, Benny Golson, Julian Lage and many others. Featuring Alex Young on the Saxophone, Ray Lebert on Guitar, David Paonessa on Pian, and Aaron McMurray on bass.
ASU CONTEMPORARY PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Thursday, Dec 4, 7:30p, ASU School of Music, Tempe Evelyn Smith Music Theatre It's a contemporary percussion ensemble... so I'd assume they're doing contemporary percussion music.
COMPOSER-PERFORMER WINTER MIXER Tuesday, Dec. 9th, 8p PAZ Taqueria Cantina, Phx 3d St./Roosevelt Come meet other new music peeps, talk shop, and get some projects going.
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CALENDAR Janurary 2015
THE MUSIC of DOUG HARBIN Tuesday, Jan. 20th, 10a, Tempe Center for the Arts Chamber music compositions written by ASU Faculty Associate Douglas Harbin and performed by a variety of Valley musicians.
CONRAD TAO Sunday, Jan 25th, 7:30p, Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts Dubbed a musician of “probing intellect and open-hearted vision” by The New York Times, Conrad Tao has, for nearly a decade, enjoyed a varied career as pianist, composer, violinist, and – most recently – presenter and curator. He was the only classical musician on Forbes’ 2011 “30 Under 30” list of people changing the world. Among his many other honors are the coveted Gilmore Young Artist Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Bach: Toccata in F-sharp Minor Carter: Two Thoughts about the Piano Beethoven: Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 Takemitsu: Les yeux clos II Chopin: Barcarolle, Op. 60 Chopin: Ballade No. 3, Op. 47 Stravinsky: Trois mouvements de Petrouchka
SEND IN YOUR EVENTS TO: events@ohmyears.com More information at ohmyears.com/events 5
If Steve Reich (minimallist composer) and Gary Burton (jazz vibraphonist) had a nusical baby it would be Nathan Hubbard's Parameters. Nathan Hubbard is a composer/percussionist living in San Diego who makes accasional appearances in Phoenix, performing with Jacob Adler, Keith Kelly, and The Scorpian Descides. This was my first time seeing Hubbard's work, and in case you missed it, well, you missed it. Hubbard has eight fantastic albums on Bandcamp (nathanhubbard.bandcamp.com) but Parameters has yet to be recorded (or is possibly in production- Hubbard is almost always working on a new album). If I remember correctly, 3 of a number of Parameters were perfomed, one being repeated (once at the beginning of the set, one at the end). It made a nice arc to the set, and due to the improvisatory nature of some of the pieces, the choice didn't feel repetitious. Hubbard's work is heavily rooted in jazz and rock, but as you'll notice in some of his other works, he is not limited to those aural suggestions. Although I would enjoy hearing any number of Parameters again, I would also show up for any one of his pieces- especially if they employ such an impressive ensemble: 3+ keyboards, 3 guitars, 2 drum sets, winds... the band was just as impressive as the music. nathanhubbard.bandcamp.com Search for "Nathan Hubbard profile" on YouTube for a great video by Snapshots Foundation
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Composer-Performer
Winter Mixer!
Tuesday, Dec 9th 8p PAZ Taqueria Cantina 3rd St/Roosevelt, PHX $3 Margaritas Bust out the business cards and USB sticks of music. Its time to get drunk and rub elbows. RSVP facebook.com/ome or just show up
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OME's 2nd Annual "oh my god, my body, my ears!" Marathon Concert The plan thus far: Obtain ASCAP Festival License so composers can get some royalties, also so we won't get in trouble. I'd like to kick the festival off with a 10-15 person rendition of Louis Andriessen's Worker's Union. If we have enough folks who can come back at 10p, I hope we can do a second performance. We have someone who is working on Michael Gordon's Timber, and there is a chance it will be performed at next year's marathon. If not, I will make sure to advertise where you can go and hear it. We should also have some new Mark Applebaum works on the program. The other 8 hours are mostly up for grabs. You should see performances by the OME Ensemble (original members are myself and Parker Davis, Guitar), The Paper Hats (band/new music ensemble), at least one open-score type performance, and hopefully some large scale graphic score interpretations. We obviously can't secure times at this point, but we can make sure you are on the list to perform. This year, there is a $25 guarentee for musicians (this is per-person, not per ensemble). Tickets will be $15 for the day and $5 for anyone who wants to drop in for one set. GUEST COMPOSERS: Jay Batzner (jaybatzner.com) In addition to being an active composer of acoustic and electroacoustic music, Jay is a blogger and CD reviewer for Sequenza21 and serves as the Programming Director for Electronic Music Midwest. His music has earned accolades from such groups as Institut International de Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges, the London International Film Festival, the VI Concurso Internacional de Miniaturas Electroacusticas, the Areon Flutes International Composition Competition, and the UK Percussion Ensemble Composition Contest. He self-publishes through Unsafe Bull Music. Jay practices zazen, reads comic books, geeks out about sci-fi stuff, sews clothes, brews beer, and juggles. Pamela Stein (pamelastein.net) Pamela currently teaches on the voice faculty of the College of Saint Elizabeth. She is a singer-in-residence with the composition department of Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, and teaches voice, music theory, and chamber music at the Mason Gross Extension Division Young Artist Program, where she directs a composer-geared new music chamber ensemble. Pamela currently resides in Princeton, NJ.
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WHAT?!? Guest composers? Yes. It is very VERY important to promote Phoenix composers and performers, but it is equally important to have people outside of Phoenix come and see what we are doing, and vice versa. So yes, guest composers. Which brings us to the money portion of things. Here is what the budget looks like so far: ASCAP Festival Lisence $350 Workers Union score rental $350 Per person payment of $25 (est. 15 performers) $375 Housing for Guest Composers (2 nights, 2 peeps) $100 Guest Composer per diem $100 Possible score rental fees $200 Promotion (printing) $200 Venue Rental $150 Program printing $100 TOTAL $1,925... round it up to $2,000 Last year we ran on a $1,200 budget ($500 private donation, the rest were made of sponsorships and my own funds), and broke even. I feel a $2,000 budget is an achievable and reasonable jump from last year. There is one hitch- we were planning on getting around $1,000 from the fall fundraiser (Epic Maker event). There was great audience interest, but no one signed up to participate. I still believe in the concept, which is why I'm going to try again next year. Right now, the budget is a little wonky. Of course, I would like to see more going to the performers. And that will happen with time. So will commissions. So will recordings and many other things. I believe this next marathon will be much bigger and better than the first (which was already really awesome). Let's do this. The Hypnotoad thinks we can.
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Would you rather... 1. Listen to Mahler Symphony #2 or eat a sleeve of Oreos? 2. Listen to Einstein on the Beach without a pee break or stab a needle in your ear? 3. Listen to all 6 Brandenberg Concertos (J.S. Bach) performed on EWIs (electronic wind instruments) or listen to all 5 Philip Glass String Quartets performed on EWIs? 4. Stare into the eyes of Eric Whitacre for an hour or eat a sleeve of Oreos? 5. Listen to William Shatner perform Pierrot Lunaire or listen to H. John Benjamin perform Pierrot Lunaire?
Happy Holidays from John Cage
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Your ad here $10/issue or $50Â for 6 issues This Zine is distributed digitally through Issuu.com and physically throughout Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale.
isclassicalmusicdead.com
Editor: Elizabeth Kennedy Bayer Editor: Margaret Anne Baer
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