Inspiration: Max Waves and Pixieguts. “Reflections.” 2010. Music for Microworlds. Elektronische Musik Union. | Length: 5:49; Musical Genre: Chillout Electronica
If I were to score music, it would look like this. Start at the bottom right and move up left and clockwise. (Who needs 5 lines and 4 spaces?) Pixieguts, who sings this poetry, has a wonderfully pink voice over against the electronica frame by Max Waves.
Inspiration: Aaron Copeland and Martha Graham. “Appalachian Spring.” 1944. | Musical Genre: Mid-century Modern Ballet
This was initially drawn based on a memory of movements from the Graham ballet I had learned to dance in college. I was trying to explain to my husband the difference between the way I was taught to move my body in my ten years of classic ballet as compared with what I learned from my professor who had studied and danced with Martha Graham.
Inspiration: Alva Noto. “Haliod Xerrox Copy 4.” 2007. Xerrox Vol. 1. Raster-Noton. | Length: 3:54 minutes; Musical Genre: Glitch
Static micro sounds with scattered glitchy golden tone bursts.
Inspiration: Cicadas and Summer Insects Audible from Emmons’ Terrace, August 2012
It is midnight and all the summer insects are singing. After a few minutes my brain dropped out the smaller insect songs and heard only the cicadas and the sound of the highways, Rt. 287 and Rt. 80, between which I live.
Inspiration: Oneohtrix Point Never. “When I Get Back from New York.” 2012. Rifts. Mexican Summer. | Length 16:48 minutes; Musical Genre: Experimental Ambient
Vibrating drone layers of sound in a synth arpeggio soundscape.
Inspiration: Terry Riley. “Lifespan/ M(usic) I(nside) C(urved) E(ntrances).” 2007. Les Yeux and Lifespan. Elision Fields. | Length: 2:11 minutes; Musical Genre: Minimalism
Electronically generated tonal harmonic framework of musical phrases punctuated by a steady bumpy pulse. I find the repetition of the pulse very comforting.
Inspiration: Baskyl. “Atomic Glow (Eclectic Version).” 2011. Eclectic Fusion. Baskyl. | Length: 4:12; Musical Genre: Chillout House
This is more an interpretation than a translation of my exhilarating experience with this wonderfully rolling, color-filled dance piece.
Inspiration: Max Maffia “On the Road.” 2005. Anywhere in the World! Daybox Records. | Length: 3:12; Musical Genre: Ambient Guitar
A few years ago when I underwent radiation treatments as part of my journey with cancer, I created a sound track on my iPod to support my healing. This image is the sound of a single harmonic guitar chord that I visualized as cutting a slice off my tumor and making that slice explode and disappear with the radiation treatments. In October 2013, I had the greatest pleasure to finally meet the composer/guitarist, Max Maffia in his beautiful home city of Salerno, Italy. I cherish the memory of the concert Max organized in my honor, in a Salerno art gallery with his entire band, and 50 of his dearest family and friends. I finally got to hear a live version of the song that supported my healing.
I finally am a sybarite: I want all of my senses turned on, tuned up, fed, and watered as often as possible. The various sections of the piece represent my different senses, lit up and happily responding to the universe into which I have been born. I am so happy I was born a synesthete!!!
Inspiration: Rammstein. “Du Hast.” 1997. Sehnsucht. Motor Music | Length: 3:55 minutes; Musical Genre: German Industrial
Upon the first listen to Du Hast by Rammstein, I was captivated by the contrasting textures. My piece “reads” left to right: the zinging sounds start the song, the big curvy semi circles represent the big guitars, and the yelling rough voice is the pink circle.
Living Out Loud: The Art of Geri Hahn 