This is a string quartet that I have been working on for the last few months. I actually made a sketch of the first movement over a year ago, and started working on fleshing it out this last May. It was originally inspired by an art exhibit that I saw on a field trip with the “day job,” and started using the planets and other bodies in space as an inspiration. When I decided to put this on the web, I went looking for some images of some of the spheres and other objects that inspired this piece. Most of the pictures were found on NASA’s JPL lab website, and others were found while I was browsing the web over the course of a few days. I make no claim to the pictures, only the music by the way...
Musically, I experimented with the idea of pitch axis as a base for a piece, rather than as an improvisational tool, and for the most part I think the piece works out well in that regard. On the technical side, the piece was “written” into Finale, which also provided the digital playback. I then took the sound file and inserted the 4 movements into Garageband, where I added a few “spacey” effects to enhance the mood. The entire piece is around 13 minutes, so it’ll take a while to load, so please be patient, it’ll be worth the wait! The movie itself was done with iMovie. Man do I sound like a commercial!
“Imagine you are a satellite, exploring the universe. You are traveling through space and periodically encountering these large, gas filled giant spheres...taken aback by the majesty of them, you can’t help but be moved (MVNT. 1). As you fly along, you next encounter stellar bodies going all around you, colliding with each other in a violent storm, and all you can hope for is to escape unharmed (MVNT. 2). You then encounter another gas giant, this one surrounded by rings and moons, a serene peaceful scene (MVNT. 3). As you go beyond the reaches, you encounter a lone planet, potmarked by craters and strangely alone (MVNT. 4). Fade into the black.”
Musically, I experimented with the idea of pitch axis as a base for a piece, rather than as an improvisational tool, and for the most part I think the piece works out well in that regard. On the technical side, the piece was “written” into Finale, which also provided the digital playback. I then took the sound file and inserted the 4 movements into Garageband, where I added a few “spacey” effects to enhance the mood. The entire piece is around 13 minutes, so it’ll take a while to load, so please be patient, it’ll be worth the wait! The movie itself was done with iMovie. Man do I sound like a commercial!
“Imagine you are a satellite, exploring the universe. You are traveling through space and periodically encountering these large, gas filled giant spheres...taken aback by the majesty of them, you can’t help but be moved (MVNT. 1). As you fly along, you next encounter stellar bodies going all around you, colliding with each other in a violent storm, and all you can hope for is to escape unharmed (MVNT. 2). You then encounter another gas giant, this one surrounded by rings and moons, a serene peaceful scene (MVNT. 3). As you go beyond the reaches, you encounter a lone planet, potmarked by craters and strangely alone (MVNT. 4). Fade into the black.”