Fauxharmonic Orchestra

Varèse – Ionisation – Live, in concert

Paul Henry Smith — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:36:21 +0000

We performed Edgard Varèse’s “Ionisation” – the first percussion ensemble piece in Western art music – live at Brandeis University on October 4, 2009.

Ionisation, for percussion ensemble

Special thanks to Jay Bacal for permission to use his digital orchestra arrangement.

Spotlight: Jeremy Spindler

Paul Henry Smith — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:24:07 +0000

We performed Jeremy’s “Animated Watercolor” at Brandeis University in October.

Animated Watercolor

About the music

Animated Watercolor is inspired by a particular painting of Kandinsky which I find quite fantastic. While it appears to have a few different names depending on the source, the one that appears most frequently, and the one I personally like the best, is Bustling Aquarelle which translates to Animated Watercolor. It is the goal of my piece to bring to life the elements of Kandinsky’s painting musically via rhythmic energy, distinct musical lines, and colorful orchestration.

Of all visual artists I am familiar with Wassily Kandinsky has mad the most significant impression upon me. While Kandinsky has a number of stylistic periods, it is his abstract works, especially the “Compositions”, that greatly catch my attention. I have always been quite fond of brilliant, bold colors and sharp, rigid lines, both of which occur frequently in his works. For whatever reason, when I am stuck writing a piece, Kandinsky aids me in generating motives, melodies, and harmonies for my ear; often I obtain more ideas than I can deal with.

From JeremySpindler.com

“Jeremy Spindler, born 1979, currently resides in Boston, MA where he is the Irving Fine Music Fellow and a Ph.D. candidate in music composition at Brandeis University. A former trumpet player, Jeremy has studied composition with Martin Boykan, Eric Chasalow, David Rakowski and Ladislav Kubik. His focus is primarily on chamber music; however he has an ever growing interest in electronic media and music for large ensembles.”

Spotlight: James Ricci

Paul Henry Smith — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:31:13 +0000

The Fauxharmonic Orchestra recently recorded Ricci’s “Chamber Symphony” Here is the second movement:

“Lulin”

James Ricci was born in New York City in 1954. He began his career as an all-around musician, studying with jazz guitarist Steve Khan, and performing in a wide variety of musical styles from atonal free-form jazz to psychedelic rock. This eclecticism spurred a wider interest in the multifaceted world of contemporary music – fired by the crosscurrents and experimentation of the 1960’s and 70’s era avant garde. [from JamesRicci.com]

After his initial training at Juilliard in 1972, Ricci moved to Boston and attended the Berklee College of Music where he obtained a degree in music composition (B.M.1976). Further studies and advanced degrees followed at the New England Conservatory (M.M. 1980 with distinction) and at Brandeis University (M.F.A. 1986, Ph.D. ABD).

Beethoven – Symphony No. 2, in D, III – Scherzo

Paul Henry Smith — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:34:57 +0000

Performed live at Brandeis University, October 4, 2009, Paul Henry Smith, conductor

Beethoven, Symphony No. 2 in D, III – Scherzo

Beethoven Digital Symphonies Concert – Oct. 4, 2009

Paul Henry Smith — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:16:23 +0000

The Fauxharmonic Orchestra presented its second concert in the series of all nine Beethoven symphonies.

October 4, 2009, 3:00 pm
Brandeis University
Slosberg Music Center
415 South Street, Waltham, MA

Program

BEETHOVEN • Symphony No. 2 in D, op. 36
FAURÉ • Nocturne, op. 57
WEBERN • Symphony, op. 21
SPINDLER • Animated Watercolor – premiere
GENTRY • A Piece for Several Instruments (or a futile attempt to explain the magical powers of nothingness) – premiere
VARÈSE • Ionisation
UEMATSU • Liberi Fatali, from Final Fantasy 8

The Fauxharmonic Orchestra will present classics of orchestral music with music from the video game Final Fantasy 8, as well as two new student works. The program will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D and music by Jeremy Spindler and Christian Gentry, both Ph.D. candidates in composition at Brandeis University. The performance of Beethoven’s 2nd Symphony is part of a year-long series presenting all nine Beethoven symphonies — a worldwide musical first. Also on the program are “Ionisation” by Varese, “Symphony” by Webern, and Glinka’s “Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture.”

Mr. Smith takes the digital orchestra out of the studio and into the concert hall to perform Beethoven’s Complete Symphonies.Performing these cornerstones of the symphonic repertoire in concert lets the audience judge whether a digital orchestra can be as expressive and moving as a traditional acoustic orchestra.

“There is no question that the music I’m playing is a masterpiece. It’s by Beethoven, after all,” Smith says. “So, what’s left to the audience to decide is whether my performance is any good. If our first concert is any indication of what’s to come, people are going to be stunned.”

Technology is Not Enough – Musicianship is Key

: Smith’s modded Wiimote

Smith has taken the Nintendo Wii far beyond off-the-shelf video gaming. By integrating game controllers into a computerized system with over three million orchestral sounds at the ready, he has created his own musical instrument – the Fauxharmonic Orchestra – with the flexibility and power to play nearly any orchestral music expressively and with the real-time responsiveness to acoustics and timing that great music demands.

But Smith is neither an inventor nor a programmer. He simply uses store-bought components, coupled with extensive musical training to produce a digital orchestra instrument many recognize as amazing. “Could just anyone do this? I don’t think so. Anyone can walk into a store and buy a Steinway, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to play it like Horowitz. Musical ability is more important than technical ability,” explains Smith.

Even so, the quality of the tools is important. That’s why Smith is using Bang & Olufsen’s acclaimed BeoLab 5 speaker system and the best orchestral sample library (collection of orchestral sounds) ever created, the Vienna Symphonic Library.

“Wii controllers are cheap toys to the rest of the world, but to me they are the highly reliable, mass produced ‘bow’ for my string sections. And the fact that they cost so little is just a nice bonus,” says Smith.

: Coolest invention of 2003 – Time

“The really important technology for this concert is the loudspeakers. The system that converts the digital information into sound in a real acoustic space has to be able to handle the demands of the music. It has to be as good a musical instrument as the acoustic instruments whose sounds I’ll be playing. That’s why I’m thrilled to be using Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 5 speakers. You don’t hear the speakers when you listen to these, you just hear the music.”

Bang & Olufsen, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-end audio and video equipment, has generously agreed to supply Paul Henry Smith and the Fauxharmonic Orchestra with their BeoLab 5 loudspeaker system. Picked by Time Magazine as one of 2003’s coolest inventions, the BeoLab 5 system will be the “instruments” of the Fauxharmonic Orchestra. The BeoLab 5’s adaptive Bass Control system, coupled with Acoustic Lens Technology, ensures optimum sound experience regardless of the position of the loudspeaker.

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Webern, Symphony, op. 21

Paul Henry Smith — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:46:04 +0000

Here is a recording of our recent rehearsal of Anton Webern’s classic of Second Viennese School serialism, “Symphonie” op. 21, conducted by Paul Henry Smith.

Beethoven – Symphony No. 1 in C, op. 21 – II Andante cantabile con moto

Paul Henry Smith — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:36:08 +0000

Second movement, andante cantabile con moto, from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21
Conducted by Paul Henry Smith. Recorded live, in concert, May 20, 2009.

Fauré – Nocturne, op. 57 from “Shylock”

Paul Henry Smith — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:58:10 +0000

Fauré – Nocturne, op. 57 from “Shylock” (for string orchestra)

Beethoven – Symphony No. 1 in C, op. 21 – I. Adagio molto—Allegro con brio

Paul Henry Smith — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:12:46 +0000

Recorded live, in concert, on May 20, 2009.

Beethoven – Symphony No. 1 in C, op. 21 – III Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace

Paul Henry Smith — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:14:18 +0000

Third movement, menuetto: allegro molto e vivace, from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21
Conducted by Paul Henry Smith. Recorded live, in concert, May 20, 2009.