Western musical notation dates back to at least the year 1025 when Benedictine monk Guido of Arezzo formed hexachords out of varied pitches. Over the following millennia, the system became more refined and ultimately developed into what one sees on most sheet music today. Given its long history, it is easy for many to assume […]
Nathaniel Hawthorne once famously noted that “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” While we all generally seem to understand an hour or a day, in a broader sense, what is time? Is it a static constant or a mere perception? Even Merriam-Webster’s definition of the term as “the measured or measurable period […]
In the second part of our conversation with Jeff Coffin (check out part one here) we dig deeper into the saxophonist’s album, Between Dreaming and Joy (Ear Up, 2022), including his use of an ice cream truck jingle, a bungee chord chair, and more. We also get into a theoretical discussion on the concept of […]
As this author sits at home recovering, it is impossible not to consider the immense downsides of the coronavirus. Almost six and a half million people have died worldwide from the virus. In such times, it is often thrust upon the artist to lift the populace’s spirits above their dire surroundings. As gigs dried up […]
If you want to make a career in contemporary creative music, you could do worse than use the Projects page on Sarah Bernstein’s website as your guide. You’ll find entries for solo processed violin and voice; noise drums, violin, and vocals; minimalist experimental poetry performance; experimental synth-pop; a string quartet; and even a catalogue raisonné […]
We continue our conversation with Steve Lehman (part one here) with a heavy focus on his writing for the distinctive ensemble, Sélébéyone. We discuss his compositional process, spectralism – writing with an eye to the acoustic properties of sound- and the deeper meaning behind sophomore release, Xaybu: The Unseen (Pi, 2022). PostGenre: What was the […]
Throughout the ages, music has always been more than just notes or rhythms on a written page. Even the works of the greatest composers, when viewed solely in text, do not fully convey the power and wonder of their music. Similarly, to some degree, an instrument is nothing more than some metal, string, wood, or […]
Onyx has long been a mysterious substance. Many ancient civilizations used the mineral in ornate jewelry but upheld the stone for more than its attractiveness. The Romans believed a necklace engraved with the image of Mars, their god of war, would provide courage to soldiers in battle. The Persians believed onyx could help with epilepsy. […]
In the second part of our discussion with Nate Wooley (check out part one here), we cover the importance of silence, lessons learned from Ron Miles and Anthony Braxton, drone music, and the demystification of experimental music. PostGenre: The special guests – Trevor Dunn and Mat Maneri – add to the album, but some of […]
Throughout history, humans have struggled to understand their place in nature. Often, however, perspectives on nature have at least bordered on antagonistic. Even the most cursory reading of Thomas Hobbes reveals the perspective that, in nature, human lives are “brutish and short.” But the reality of mankind’s relationship with nature is far more complicated. Despite […]
