Fauxharmonic Orchestra » News and Events

Live Concerts

Paul Henry Smith — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:03:41 +0000

Innovation - with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra

Matthew Quayle’s “Gridley Paige Road”* for string orchestra performed first by The Fauxharmonic Orchestra and then by the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Markand Thakar conducting

Sunday, November 2, 2008 - 4:00 pm
Brooklyn, New York - Bargemusic

Markand Thakar, left, conductor of The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and Paul Henry Smith.

Building Beethoven’s 7th - Wii Test

Paul Henry Smith — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:18:36 +0000

This short video shows my first test using the Nintendo Wii controller, or “Wii-mote,” to affect the playback of a short passage. The motion and position of the controller tells the computer to select from among pre-recorded samples of musicians playing loud or soft.

The results are promising, but I can easily see that this approach will have limitations as the music gets more complex. For example, when first violins need to be emphasized and then second violins immediately following them, how will the controller “know” which instrument group to modify? We’ll probably have to pair multiple controllers (perhaps Wii-motes) with multiple musicians and computers.

Building Beethoven’s 7th - Allegretto (complete)

Paul Henry Smith — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:28:58 +0000

This episode presents the complete performance of the second movement, Allegretto, of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Op. 92. Performed by the Fauxharmonic Orchestra.

(Optimized for iPod playback: The dynamic range has been reduced.)

Building Beethoven’s 7th - Hidden Clarinet?

Paul Henry Smith — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:22:08 +0000

A “hidden” melody in the middle of the second movement of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony is uncovered and performed by the Fauxharmonic Orchestra. The melody has actually only been “hidden” in plain sight, for it is clearly written in the score.

Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies

Paul Henry Smith — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 01:24:24 +0000

About the project and who’s participating …

The Fauxharmonic Orchestra has begun a massive project to perform all nine Beethoven symphonies. This may well be the first digital orchestra performance of the symphonies.

New score for “The Bump in the Road”

Paul Henry Smith — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 20:45:03 +0000

Paul Henry Smith has just completed the score for Brett Konner’s short film “The Bump in the Road,” produced by Bulldog Productions.

Each year Bulldog Productions coordinates two international competitions to find and promote the outstanding work of undiscovered filmmakers and screenwriters. Konner’s screenplay won the fall 2005 competition. Konner, a senior at Yale University, also directed and edited the film.

LISTEN:
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The Fauxharmonic Orchestra uses a limited palette of low strings and violas to support the film’s vaguely angst-ridden, quasi-thriller mood. The music evokes Bernard Herrmann, as well as Brahms, but plays a decidedly background role in the film. That’s the nature of film scoring. The music has to fit the film and sometimes the best fit is an understated and spare score.

Bulldog Productions

About Brett Konner’s “Beer Pong: The Movie”