Christopher Kaufman's
MUSIC FROM EARTH
         

MUSIC FROM EARTH - (8/’07) for Alto Saxophone Soloist, CDTape of Western/Eastern Orchestral, Electronic and Natural Sounds and Visual Projections.

About MUSIC FROM EARTH the composer writes:

..."Music From Earth represents a new evolution in my work in terms of how music is put together and presented. I came to computers recently and now am enjoying working with film artists and for those projects modern technology is paramount. It was with great pleasure that I discovered the possibilities for the combination of live and electronic music. I use my western orchestral sounds and electronic instruments in original ways born of my long experience with live music and orchestral composition. Add to these the eastern orchestra, electronic instruments and natural sounds and you have a very fulfilling orchestral ‘universe’.

...The resultant sound world and presentation is unique and versatile, infinitely diverse and able to monumentalize inspiration and compositional planning like nothing else I have ever before been able achieve. MUSIC FROM EARTH is often presented with lighting and visual projections of natural images - sometimes up close to seem as abstract images, sometimes of recognizable creatures or forms..."

Quick Overview:
Opening Rift - the work begins at the ‘mid-atlantic rift’. Earth Rhythm - The music progresses with war-like rhythms through the ocean. Whale-song is part of the texture, mixed with symphonic textures and powerful thematic melodies in the saxophone. Air - Expressive solos interweave sounds of tree crickets, polyphonic owls, woodpecker, harp, piccolo, marimba and other sounds. Interlude. Ritual Snake Dance - You’ll hear saxophone, eastern percussion, piano, mutedtrumpet, bass, electronic brass and rattle-snake sounds. UrthStorm - the final movement features lightning strokes, complex driving rhythms, live ‘cuica’ and the central message of MUSIC FROM EARTH.

SCORE - Introduction


MUSIC FROM EARTH: - for Alto Saxophone Soloist and Tape of Western/Eastern Orchestra, Electronic and Natural Sounds::

MUSIC FROM EARTH was composed during the last two weeks of August, 2007 for Saxophonist and New Music Champion Demetrius Spaneas. It is part of a series of works inspired by Environmental Awareness, the leadership of Al Gore and others, my own sense of these issues and my love of the sounds involved. Demetrius has premiered the work in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (11/7/7) and performed it at the DOM Cultural Center in Moscow. He continued to tour the work with a number of other pieces of American music (including his own) in locations such as Kyrgyzstan, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, St. Petersburg and Riga, Latvia. Now we will perform it in America. When possible the performances include a film of natural imagery. This film, which I created, uses microscopic images and images of familiar forms close up so as to appear abstract as well as recognizable natural images such as creatures and geographical forms.

AIR - Music With Video

Demetrius Spaneas - composer for film and concert stage / virtuoso performer (saxophone, clarinet, flute) - world traveling new music champion - read more about him and listen to his music by visiting his site.

HEAR EXCERPTS from MUSIC FROM EARTH at 'Chris Kaufman's Sonic Emporium', itunes, view the film at Live Earth or my youtube channel.

1. Opening Rift

The story begins in the center of the ocean - the mid-Atlantic rift. The video shows images of deep ocean volcanic vents, lava and expressive ocean waves. The titles have double meanings and this one refers to the present rift between humanity and nature.

2. Earth Rhythm

Images of microscopic life move to undersea creatures and whales and dolphins accompany powerful rhythmic music as the story progresses to the surface of the sea. It ends with the sounds of the Earth breathing.

3. Air

Images and sounds from the Earth's surface. You hear music made from the sounds of tree crickets, woodpeckers, polyphonic owls, a bug hitting the mike, orchestral sounds, and beautiful melodic work for the Sax.

4. Interlude and Ritual Snake Dance

Here the screen goes black and we listen. The music here is based on an piano improvisation which Kaufman orchestrated and developed. The sounds of the rattlesnake are part of the music. Slowly images return, images from the hubble telescope showing the galaxy and moving gradually to Earth. The music grows to a seven part rhythmic counterpoint featuring Eastern percussion. The sax plays evocative solos as a spitirual element is realized.

5. Urthstorm

Images of storms are matched in the music as the Sax expresses massive lines like strokes of lightning. Live 'cuica' and thunder and wind sounds are interwoven with a texture of powerful and complex rhythmic music.

Music From Earth ends with a feeling of foreboding and warning - as if it were channeling our Planet's message.

A Song of the Earth.