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While I’ve still been focusing on composing strange and droney music - look for some new scores at the music page soon - I’ve been playing violin in some country-ish rock-ish bands over the past year.

Tatters and Rags is a rock band with drone, country, and post-punk leanings. Here’s a clip of a song from a recent performance at Cakeshop, courtesy of Punkcast:

Owen Lake is the synth-country project of composer Jeff Snyder. I contributed violin and backup vocals to a few tracks on this EP that I describe to my friends as “Dolly Parton meets The Postal Service.”

The Language Of, featuring new works by eight New York City composers, is now available on the iTunes store. You can download or stream my piece, also titled the language of from my music page for free, or if you feel like sending along a little bit of money (this CD was produced entirely with money out of our pockets), you can get it from iTunes.

First of all, I’m very proud to have my cello piece, the language of featured on a new CD called, coincidentally, the language of. My piece enjoys the company of brand new pieces by New York composers Clara Latham, Alex Mincek, Alex Ness, Sam Pluta, Kate Soper, Jeff Snyder, and Eric Wubbels. The entire CD will soon be available on the iTunes store.

I’ve also begun playing violin with Tatters and Rags, a Brooklyn-based “drone country” band. My first show with this band is November 5th, at Cakeshop, in the lower east side of Manhattan. Details soon to come.

Also very exciting is my new piece for recorder and computer, Postcards from New Amsterdam, currently being toured around North America by Terri Hron. Look for it in a city near you!
Tour dates:
October 27, 2008 @ 8 pm - U of A, Fine Arts Building, Studio 27, Edmonton
October 29, 2008 @ 8 pm - Meridian Gallery, San Francisco
November 1, 2008 @ 8 pm - The Western Front Society, Vancouver
November 2, 2008 @ 8 pm - The Music Gallery, Toronto
November 3, 2008 @ 8 pm - Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin
November 7, 2008 @ 8 pm - Tabler Hall, SUNY Stony Brook
November 10, 2008 @ 8 pm - Harvestworks, New York City

I’m back in New York after an exhausting summer teaching composition, musicianship, and computer musicianship at the Walden School. I had the great fortune to work with some especially talented young composers this year in each of my classes. I’m excited to see where these people will go in their lives and their careers.

Due to some last-minute changes my cello piece, the language of, was premiered by none other than Dave Eggar, my very favorite cellist. He played the hell out of it, and is incorporating it into his repertoire. Listen for it next at his show at the Stone on October 3rd.

I’m at work on some exciting projects. In the works are more just intonation string pieces, and a work for recorder and live electronics commissioned by Terri Hron. Glissando bin Laden and his Musichideen will be performing late October with all new material and our newest member, bass clarinetist Meighan Stoops. Check here frequently for performance dates and new recordings and scores.

I’m leaving today to start my six-week stint teaching at the Walden School, a summer program for young composers (aged 11 - 18). This will be my third summer at Walden, and I’m excited to teach my three classes this year, in composition, computer musicianship, and musicianship. It’s always a thrill to get down to some intense work with excited young people, and it usually serves as a good recharge to my compositional batteries.

I’m also excited to hear the premiere of my new solo cello piece, the language of on July 13th. It’s a strange piece for me, and I’m looking forward to hearing what it sounds like. the language of is written entirely for the natural harmonics of a standard tuned cello, and contains snippets of thrush song. Here’s a sneak peek: