Re: Thanks for the Band Organ Music
By Stephen Kent Goodman
From: Stephen Kent Goodman (adbytes@delphi.com)
To: Ron Yost c/o automatic-music@foxtail.com
Re: Thanks! for the Music (Automatic Music Digest 96.04.10)
CC: Robbie Rhodes
> I'd like to add my hearty THANK YOU to all involved for sharing
> "Painting the Town Red, White & Blue". What a WONDERFUL arrangement!!
Speaking for all of us, you're welcome Ron. The actual arrangement was done for a "human' theater orchestra (the type heard at ragtime festivals) and was MIDIfied by Robbie Rhodes, voiced by George Bogatko (who added some amazing registers and colors) and Doug Wasson, who likewise contributed his talents & skills. It was the first of what I hope will be many such team efforts.
> The Piccolo track sounds really great played on the real Glockenspiel
> in my MIDIed Fair Organ. It really gets a workout! <One of the
> advantages of a MIDIed organ is the ability to play SEPARATE parts on
> different instruments.> For instance, the Glockenspiel doesn't have to
> be forever slaved to the Melody. Mine can play separate melody,
> counter-melody or just nice, occasional ornamentation, just like a real
> marching band. It's pretty neat, IMHO!
That's the idea of a BAND organ, to imitate the omnipresent concert BAND of years ago, ala Sousa, Pryot et al. What kind of system are you using?
> ... I hope all of you are working on some more songs ---
> PRETTY PLEASE!!!
I just received a commission from the Regimental Band of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for a rag. As son as it is finished, I'll translate it into a MIDI file so Robbie, George & Doug can work their magic, if they want to. It is arranged for full concert BAND this time, not small orchestra (as with _Painting_), so the end results will probably open up a few more keys or notes on your key-frame in a verticle chord-stack which hopefully won't exhaust the reservoirs. I want to "send it out" BEFORE it is published- this time by a publisher other than myself due to his large school-band distribution ($$$$) network. Of course, that won't affect my letting youse guys play it to death on yer organs because
1) It is being released in MIDI format before I actual sign it over and
2) They are separate markets.
> BTW: Stephen, are you the same Stephen Kent Goodman who had an
> exhibition of original 'Sound Sculpture' in Exposition Park in L.A.
> about 1977-78? I still have a ton of photos I took of that exhibit! It
> was extremely clever, and a real inspiration to me. If so, have you
> done any further work in that area? (I wonder what became of Stephen
> Von Hume? Another 'Sound Sculpture' pioneer. His 'Kinetic Dog'
> audio-sculpture in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's collection is
> really great.)
Yes, indeed, I am one in the same. As you recall, I was using MIDI before MIDI was cool. CMOS chips as soon as they were invented, a touch-sensitive keyboard and storing everything to a disco-era 8-track endless tape deck that perpetually had tracking problems. (It was 1976; what can I say...) I did things with organ pipes and other acoustical structures that no one had ever done- before nor since.
The whole ensemble (I added another sculpture after that Science & Industry Exhibit of '77-'78) was sold to a sonic art gallery in San Diego many years ago.
After a series of successful exhibitions, including one at New York's Gallery PS1, I ceased constructing automated acoustical sculpture, and got back into commercial composing and arranging. I have been contributing to the band & orchestra (and now I guess "MIDI") arms of the so-called "New Ragtime" movement since 1986).
I never heard of Von Huene again. He was ignorant of acoustic & pneumatic science, and a dabbler in archaic photo-electric systems. When I spoke with him, I was disappointed to find out that he was basically a kinetic artist who "got lucky" in that his pieces worked at all. I guess I had an unfair advantage having rebuilt so many WurliTzers, Seeburgs (Simplicity- Reliability-Endurance; words to live by in pneumatic and acoustical construction) and other commercial mechanisms.
It's great that you recall that exhibit, and I would enjoy any "extra" photos of the instruments you might want to share. How about scanning them into GIF files and submitting them to this group?
Thanks again for the kind words about the MIDI file and there should be more forthcoming.
Stephen
[ Editor's Note: I want to put my 2 cents worth in too. The tune is
[ _GREAT_ and I'm so glad that you guys have connected up with each
[ other and have decided to share the results with the group. I'm thrilled
[ at the idea that there might be more to come...
[
[ Jody |
(Message sent Sun 14 Apr 1996, 23:50:32 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
|
|
Mechanical
Music Digest™ Archives
