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Articles 1 - 30 of 43
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Two Soundpieces (Score), Gary Smart
Two Soundpieces (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
I was a student at Indiana University when I wrote Two Soundpieces (1969). The piece was originally written for a friend, tenor saxophonist, Robert Hores, who asked for a piece that used the tenor’s idiomatic “illegitimate” sounds. It was soon picked up by avant garde saxophonist Ken Dorn who performed the piece several times in various new music venues. I moved to Germany in 1970 and soon after lost much of my personal music library, including this piece, in a Cologne warehouse fire. At the time I had just a few copies of most of my works….and suddenly they were …
Two Soundpieces - Saxophone Part (Score), Gary Smart
Two Soundpieces - Saxophone Part (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
I was a student at Indiana University when I wrote Two Soundpieces (1969). The piece was originally written for a friend, tenor saxophonist, Robert Hores, who asked for a piece that used the tenor’s idiomatic “illegitimate” sounds. It was soon picked up by avant garde saxophonist Ken Dorn who performed the piece several times in various new music venues. I moved to Germany in 1970 and soon after lost much of my personal music library, including this piece, in a Cologne warehouse fire. At the time I had just a few copies of most of my works….and suddenly they were …
Two Soundpieces - Soundpiece I: Tripartite (Recording), Gary Smart, Michael Bovenzi
Two Soundpieces - Soundpiece I: Tripartite (Recording), Gary Smart, Michael Bovenzi
Gary Smart
I was a student at Indiana University when I wrote Two Soundpieces (1969). The piece was originally written for a friend, tenor saxophonist, Robert Hores, who asked for a piece that used the tenor’s idiomatic “illegitimate” sounds. It was soon picked up by avant garde saxophonist Ken Dorn who performed the piece several times in various new music venues. I moved to Germany in 1970 and soon after lost much of my personal music library, including this piece, in a Cologne warehouse fire. At the time I had just a few copies of most of my works….and suddenly they were …
Two Soundpieces - Soundpiece Ii: Rag-Cadenza (Recording), Gary Smart, Michael Bovenzi
Two Soundpieces - Soundpiece Ii: Rag-Cadenza (Recording), Gary Smart, Michael Bovenzi
Gary Smart
I was a student at Indiana University when I wrote Two Soundpieces (1969). The piece was originally written for a friend, tenor saxophonist, Robert Hores, who asked for a piece that used the tenor’s idiomatic “illegitimate” sounds. It was soon picked up by avant garde saxophonist Ken Dorn who performed the piece several times in various new music venues. I moved to Germany in 1970 and soon after lost much of my personal music library, including this piece, in a Cologne warehouse fire. At the time I had just a few copies of most of my works….and suddenly they were …
Piano Sonata (Score), Gary Smart
Piano Sonata (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
My Piano Sonata consists of four large contrasting movements. Each movement bows to tradition and convention in many ways. Yet each also aims to creates something new. I utilize diverse materials in my music, materials from Americana, jazz and world musics As well as the Western European tradition. Pluralism has become a major force for me. I find the 21st century to be strikingly different than the time in which I studied and came of age. Technology has brought us all into very close contact. Today the alien does not remain alien for long; it is soon incorporated. The world …
Piano Sonata Iii. Turtle Dreams Of Flight (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Piano Sonata Iii. Turtle Dreams Of Flight (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Gary Smart
This slow movement was directly inspired by a dream. I enter the mind of the turtle. I dream my turtle self into other dimensions, where I think and feel without the use of language. This pseudo-waltz scherzo moves more than once from very slow to very fast, from low to high register, from simple to complex with an urgent, yet disguised purpose. Like my dream, this is a mysterious drama indeed, as is life itself. In the end one is still left with a question, perhaps Ives’ Unanswered Question. For me this piece is symbolic of an inexorable desire for …
Piano Sonata Iv. Chez Garuda (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Piano Sonata Iv. Chez Garuda (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Gary Smart
Garuda is a mythical bird-god. His statue in Sanjusangendo is fierce and menacing. The figure seemed almost comical in its ferocity. The Garuda I saw was a crazed Hellboy musician stamping out a beat, playing wild licks on his flute. But it seemed he might also be capable of the most inspired lyricism. If so, his would be formidable music-making, no doubt. This movement is my reaction to that image. Here my jazz background becomes apparent. Bebop, boogie-woogie, Bill Evans lyricism…all this and more is mixed together in a swirling cartoon world of expression. The movement is loosely cast in …
Piano Sonata I. Kimnara’S Blessing (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Piano Sonata I. Kimnara’S Blessing (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Gary Smart
The first and last movements here are named after deities in the Japanese Buddist-Hindu canon. I was inspired by a visit to the Sanjusangendo shrine in Kyoto, where 1000 exquisite ancient wood statues have stood for many centuries. There I saw Kimnara, a winged female spirit, a gentle celestial musician. My evocation of her music is ritualistic. The piece begins and ends with an “a-men” and features an abundance of thematic material which includes lyrical expression, as well as harp-like flourishes and most notably, exuberant sections based on the ringing metallic sounds and rhythmic gestures of the Balinese gamelan orchestra. …
Piano Sonata Ii. Moonspinner (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Piano Sonata Ii. Moonspinner (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukino Miyake
Gary Smart
This playful, virtuosic movement is evocative of American folk music, particularly Appalachian fiddle music and song. The fiddle music is abstracted, certainly, yet the figurations are idiomatic. The folk song, which interrupts the “instrumental” music twice, is original. A hint of it appears in the “working out’ at the center of the form and also in the high register at the very close of the movement. The title, “Moonspinner” is named after an old-fashioned hand made wooden toy I once saw in North Carolina. I always promised myself I would write a piece with this title.
Can't Buy Me Love (Recording), Gary Smart
Can't Buy Me Love (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
"Can't Buy Me Love" is an interpretation of the Lennon-McCartney classic performed on piano. It is from "Beatle Jazz," released by Mastersound Recordings in 1998.
Let It Be (Recording), Gary Smart
Let It Be (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
"Let It Be" is an interpretation of the Lennon-McCartney classic performed on piano. It is from "Beatle Jazz," released by Mastersound Recordings in 1998.
Singing The Blues (Recording), Gary Smart
Singing The Blues (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
The pop song “Singing the Blues” was written in 1920 by a team of composers (Robinson-Conrad-Lewis-Young) and was recorded that year by both the Original Dixieland Jass Band and singer Aileen Stanley. Both recordings were on the Victor label. But the inspiration for my improvisation here is the famous 1927 recording on the Okeh label by Bix Beiderbecke and his group. Bix’s jazz is not as brilliant as that of Louis Armstrong, nor is it as dramatic. But it is wonderful stuff, more sophisticated harmonically and more purely melodic. It is serene and musical. I have long loved this style. …
Benediction (Score), Gary Smart
Benediction (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
“Benediction” for solo violin (2009) was written for violinist Piotr Szlewczyk and his recording project “Violin Futura”. This short set of variations is based on the old southern hymn, “Part in Peace”.
Trumpeter Swan (Score), Gary Smart
Trumpeter Swan (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
This piece was originally recorded for Capstone Records in 1990. At the time, this beautiful bird was disappearing from the American West and was on the endangered species list.The piece is in two movements. The first is “nesting music”, the second takes flight, and moves through several adventurous episodes, but finally settles back into the opening serenity. The work ends with echoing calls fading into silence.
Jammin' At The Cathedral (Recording), Gary Smart
Jammin' At The Cathedral (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
An example of my electronic music. Taken from a collection called "Five Electronic Preludes".
Yo Yo (Recording), Gary Smart
Yo Yo (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
An example of my electronic music. Taken from a collection called "Five Electronic Preludes".
Del Diario De Un Papagayo [From The Diary Of A Parrot] (Recording), Gary Smart
Del Diario De Un Papagayo [From The Diary Of A Parrot] (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
"Del Diario de un Papagayo" [From the Diary of a Parrot] is a recording of the premiere of this work for chamber orchestra and tape recorded parrot. It was composed and premiered in 1973 by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. The 'soloist' was our family parrot, Pablo.
Benediction (Recording), Piotr Szlewczyk, Gary Smart
Benediction (Recording), Piotr Szlewczyk, Gary Smart
Gary Smart
“Benediction” for solo violin (2009) was written for violinist Piotr Szlewczyk and his recording project “Violin Futura”. This short set of variations is based on the old southern hymn, “Part in Peace”.
Trumpeter Swan (Recording), Britt Theurer, Gary Smart
Trumpeter Swan (Recording), Britt Theurer, Gary Smart
Gary Smart
This piece was originally recorded for Capstone Records in 1990 by Britt Theurer on trumpet and The Franciscan String Quartet. At the time, this beautiful bird was disappearing from the American West and was on the endangered species list.The piece is in two movements. The first is “nesting music”, the second takes flight, and moves through several adventurous episodes, but finally settles back into the opening serenity. The work ends with echoing calls fading into silence.
Beatbox (Score), Gary Smart
Beatbox (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Beatbox 4 (Recording), Gary Smart, Tomoko Hoshiyama
Beatbox 4 (Recording), Gary Smart, Tomoko Hoshiyama
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Beatbox 1 (Recording), Gary Smart, Yoshiki Hagihara
Beatbox 1 (Recording), Gary Smart, Yoshiki Hagihara
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Beatbox 2 (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukari Yano
Beatbox 2 (Recording), Gary Smart, Yukari Yano
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Beatbox 5 (Recording), Gary Smart, Chizu Hamano
Beatbox 5 (Recording), Gary Smart, Chizu Hamano
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Beatbox 6 (Recording), Gary Smart, Toshie Matsui
Beatbox 6 (Recording), Gary Smart, Toshie Matsui
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Beatbox 3 (Recording), Gary Smart, Naoko Kadota
Beatbox 3 (Recording), Gary Smart, Naoko Kadota
Gary Smart
This group of short pieces for two pianists playing one piano was composed for a tour of central Japan in the summer of 2006. At a concert in Kyoto I premiered this collection, as secundo pianist, with six of my former Japanese piano students, each playing one movement with me. Each movement is dedicated to that individual and I like to think that these movements reflect, to some extent, each pianists’ personality.The title “Beatbox” refers to the repetitive rhythmic motives which serve as the basis for each movement. This music features energetic ostinati, and thick, bopish textures. Movement five is …
Bye-Bye (Score), Gary Smart
Bye-Bye (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
“Bye-bye” for mixed sextet of instruments was written specifically for the 2010 Finale Composers’ Competition. It was finished in August 2010. It is a kind of abstract toccata which relies on rhythmic gestures as a primary unifying device. “Bye-bye” is Ivesian in it’s overall American character and in it’s use of materials from diverse musical genres (vaudeville, ragtime, waltz, early jazz, swing, etc.).Only five minutes in length, this piece is written to serve as a brilliant, eccentric showpiece encore. Fans of the “Great American songbook” will recognize this music to be a free fantasy on the old sing-a-long favorite – …
Bye-Bye (Recording), Gary Smart
Bye-Bye (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
“Bye-bye” for mixed sextet of instruments was written specifically for the 2010 Finale Composers’ Competition. It was finished in August 2010. It is a kind of abstract toccata which relies on rhythmic gestures as a primary unifying device. “Bye-bye” is Ivesian in it’s overall American character and in it’s use of materials from diverse musical genres (vaudeville, ragtime, waltz, early jazz, swing, etc.).Only five minutes in length, this piece is written to serve as a brilliant, eccentric showpiece encore. Fans of the “Great American songbook” will recognize this music to be a free fantasy on the old sing-a-long favorite – …
Wabi Sabi (Score), Gary Smart
Wabi Sabi (Score), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
Wabi Sabi is a fantasy for eight instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and bass. The title, a Japanese phrase, refers to a love and nostalgia for ancient times, for old things - antiques - things which evoke feelings of purity, nobility, hard won wisdom, an essential spirituality, true worth. A tea ceremony in a Kyoto garden is “wabi sabi”. The piece was formed intuitively as a kind of drama, perhaps a Japanese folk tale. The expansion of “time perception”, the savoring of sound colors and the evocation of mood is central to the aesthetic of this music.
Wabi Sabi (Recording), Gary Smart
Wabi Sabi (Recording), Gary Smart
Gary Smart
Wabi Sabi is a fantasy for eight instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and bass. The title, a Japanese phrase, refers to a love and nostalgia for ancient times, for old things - antiques - things which evoke feelings of purity, nobility, hard won wisdom, an essential spirituality, true worth. A tea ceremony in a Kyoto garden is “wabi sabi”. The piece was formed intuitively as a kind of drama, perhaps a Japanese folk tale. The expansion of “time perception”, the savoring of sound colors and the evocation of mood is central to the aesthetic of this music.