Do Si Do Boom Boom
In 2016, I worked with performance artist Nick Cave to compose and perform music for the culminating show of his Shreveport residency, As Is. I was tasked with composing and leading a musical conversation-turned-collaboration between two ensembles—one rural, the other urban-tribal.
Cave's important stipulation was that with both approaches be simultaneously traditional and experimental. My first set of demos in answer to this challenge was a departure into Sun Ra Strange Strings territory (some of this work would later resurface as the "Diplomatic Overtures" in The Court of King Skebal). This didn't match Cave's vision, however, and I was soon to realize that my own approach, rural space music, was a better answer, especially with some helpful input from Twang Darkly drummer Lane Bayliss regarding the tribal percussive elements.
Do Si Do in Space
The short suite of chromatic dulcimer & banjo tunes I composed for As Is (the "Do Si Do" half of the work) all revolved around a 3 note chromatic figure that, in and of itself, would be out of place in the modal Appalachian milieu the pieces nevertheless seem to inhabit. I enjoyed creating traditional sounding music that was based around this kind of oddity, ao after the show was complete, I used this figure and the associated themes to create an expanded set of works that I perform solo and with Twang Darkly.
On Record
Some of the pieces I eventually recorded can be heard, owened, or streamed on several of my albums.
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Woodshed (2017) Bandcamp (CD too) |
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Nebula (2017) Bandcamp (CD too) |
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The Court of King Skebal (2016) Bandcamp (CD too) |
See my full list of all releases for more rural space music.
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