QUID : by Koerber : for lute trio & flute
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Go to Web Page

    Hear A Performance

    WHAT?
  • mrcoppermrcopper
    Posts: 653
    Pro quo? Nice sound. Irritating to exclude sections from the perusal score, though!
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    so sorry, mr. copper... now trying to make a living performing AND composing... (hahaha).
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    francis,
    That was exquisite! As I'm both a guitarist and flutist, it is so intriguing a little gem.
    May I ask about the recording?
    What I particularly fancy was that the flute voice had a kite-like, serene floating free affect rather than the usual acrobatics that are encountered in chamber pieces. I also appreciated that the flutist tone (analog or synth?) wasn't pushed ala Galway, refreshing.The lute(s) using almost "tapping" style is tres cool, I could imagine the late Michael Hedges doing most of the piece alone.
    Perfect piece to submit for LAGuitar Quartet, California Guitar Trio, the Romeros or Assads, or even Scottish genius Paul Galbraith and his 8 string. Bravo.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Thanks, melo for the encouraging words.

    About The Recording

    The flute part is kept simple, because actually, the original piece is for voice, organ continuo, viola and cello and is the fifth movement of my Et Lux In Tenebrae sacred oratorio, Quid Me Quaeritas. It is a piece delivering comical relief in the heaviest of subjects (Passion), as Jesus is whimsically confused about why the Jews want to kill him.

    D. Iesus ad Iudaeos

    V. Iesus: Quid me quaeritis?
    Unum opus feci, et omnes miramini.
    Ego sum lux mundi: qui sequitur me, non ambulat in
    tenebris, sed habebit lumen vitæ.

    (translation)

    D. Jesus Speaks to the Jews (Bar. solo)

    V. Jesus: Why seek you to kill me?
    One work I have done: and you all wonder.
    I am the light of the world. He that followeth me walketh not
    in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

    Since I probably won't hear this again in its original form I take liberties to rearrange and borrow for more likely performances. Since everything I compose I believe is texturally transparent, it is easy to push it out in other forms, arrangements, instrumentation, etc., using Sib. Half the fun is discovering other ways to set the same music to new sounds.

    The sounds in this recording are the stock sounds in Sibelius, and I mix them (play with the eq, track volumes, reverb, etc.) to sound as natural as possible.

    Do you know any of those people you mention? I have given up on submitting works to performers as I never get any response from anyone. So I just compose for God, me (and my Mac enjoys the performances, but it has never admitted to it yet.)
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    NOTE: I mixed the first rendition of this piece at 4am in the morning, was very tired and the balance wasn't quite right. After reviewing the recording, I made adjustments and have uploaded a new mix. Be sure to clear the cache on your browser to enjoy a better mp3. : )
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,471
    original piece is for voice


    I had a feeling about that.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Adam... Your feeling is correct. Since a flute breathes, I thought it best to give him the part.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Not personally. These are top drawer performers. Sorry. But it's not impossible, as Morton Lauridsen did manage to get the LA Guitar Quartet to arrange and record his famous Rilke setting "Dirait 'ton."
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    melo:

    OK, at your bidding, I emailed the LAGQ. I will let you know if I hear back.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,471
    (and my Mac enjoys the performances, but it has never admitted to it yet.)


    Apple products are the cats of the computer world.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Adam

    My little saying about PC's vrs. Macs...

    You can either spend your time building the instrument or you can simply play it. Choose!
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    pic of BG
    Picture 2.png
    538 x 377 - 256K
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Hey, melo:

    I uploaded yet another mp3 file. This one is much better. The last one was distorted. Let me know if you hear a dif.

    UPDATE

    I polished the piece and put in more dynamics, expression and finesse.
  • mrcoppermrcopper
    Posts: 653
    I'm impressed by the engineering in it: the sound is so good and clear, even on my internet computer with its cheap sound. I can't seem to get that. The music is attractive too. I'd consider more notes for the flute, if you keep working on it.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    mrcopper

    Yea, I thought about some ornamentation, however, I have to be careful not to destroy the attractive simplicity.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,471
    francis:

    Have you thought about making some money making demo and/or practice recordings?
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    I'd consider more notes for the flute

    Unbelievable.
  • mrcoppermrcopper
    Posts: 653
    You say you are/were a flutist, Melo? Me too. We like fast notes, not plodding staccato quarters. Nothing wrong with the music, but the idiom could be better.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Yes, with a performance degree in it. "Are/were?" Was "I'm a flutist" ambiguous to you? You have a way about you, mrcopper. Thanks for telling me what "we" and "I" like, as fellow flutists. And I'm sure your description of francis' composition, the flute voice in particular, is more than appreciated by Mr. Koerber. I don't recall "plodding staccato quarters" in this particular piece, but if you say they're there, it must be so. Very helpful.
  • mrcoppermrcopper
    Posts: 653
    I sense some frustration, so I'll let Francis decide for himself. He might look at some of the many Anderson studies for how to expand a simple harmonic framework for the flute.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    That's awfully kind of you, mrcopper, to defer to the composer's own preferences. Much learning has and will continue benefit he and the rest of us by your magnanimous offerings.
    Thanked by 1mrcopper
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Adam:

    I would be glad to make recordings. What would you like to have?

    mrcopper and melo:

    I will work on a copper rendition with lots of notes (just like mozart). Melo, you may have the first one as is.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,471
    I would be glad to make recordings. What would you like to have?

    Oh, I don't have anything in particular in mind. It just occurred to me off-hand that it might be a profitable service to offer.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,806
    Ok. Will make a new thread.
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