Comments on: The Two Best Things I’ve Heard in Weeks

By: Steve Layton

Steve Layton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:27:00 +0000

Thanks Chris, great info.

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:32:27 +0000

Kathleen responded to my query about The Same Sky and has given me permission to post her response

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SAME SKY???
The short answer to the question is that it is a combination (coordinated by a really complicated click track) of me playing live and a MIDI’d Yamaha SY 77. When Carolyn first showed me the piece, she handed over the full score—not what Kyle scanned, that’s only my part (40 pages of, almost no rests). So you can imagine what the actual score looked like. And I immediately realized it would take about a dozen pianists to play it. So she set about making a part that could be played by one person. HOWEVER, she did not take away or mute the “voice” that she gave to the pianist; instead, she made it quieter, but left it embedded in the mix. You can sort of tell what is the live piano because, for one thing, it is a little out of tune with the Yamaha synth in my recording. My producer/engineer, the amazing Sheldon Steiger, left it that way on purpose to create a little standout there. I think it was also really ingenious to leave the voice embedded, as it makes for something that isn’t “piano plus recording” or piano concerto or quasi-ensemble work exactly. It’s all of those things and none of those things. As I mentioned before, I was thrilled that Kyle printed and made explicit something I’ve known about the piece for about 9 years now—that it is one of the most spectacular pieces of the last 20 years! It is one of the most demanding I have played, too—harder than it sounds.

Final note from Supove: there are TWO different recordings of The Same Sky—one is on Tzadik and IS purely MIDI’d. So someone could have gotten confused about that…

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:28:43 +0000

Many thanks for the posting. Carolyn Yarnell’s work is stunning. In fact, I liked it so much, I put my money where my mouth is and bought a copy of the actual CD (not downloaded, not ripped off, but actually purchased a hard copy CD).

By: Christian

Christian — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:27:24 +0000

Kyle’s a fine composer and writer. You should check out his piece on the latest Mode Minimalism comp: terrific stuff. I’m planning on using his materials as readings and listening assignments in my minimalism course this summer.

By: Peter T.

Peter T. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:09:58 +0000

I´ve been folowing S21 for a few years, and this time I simply can´t swallow it: here from Europe it is really difficult to understand why Mr. Kyle Gann enjoys such a reputation there. Really difficult.

By: David Brighton-Towne

David Brighton-Towne — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:13:26 +0000

Yawn. Nothing particularly daring or impressive in either piece.

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:54:06 +0000

I just emailed Kathleen to see if she has a second to clarify for us. She might be too busy of course! Recently I’ve been really enjoying her CD with Eve Beglarian Twisted Tutu which I think a lot of people here might also dig…

By: Dan Schmidt

Dan Schmidt — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:46:37 +0000

I am also almost positive that this is a MIDI realization (and when I searched around I saw that one has been recorded and published). You can hear a short clip of Supové’s performance here: http://www.amazon.com/Supove-Kathleen-Infusion/dp/B0010WLJ8E/

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:42:02 +0000

Well, hang on. Is it a live performance along with the sequencer?

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:37:52 +0000

Galen, I think the Yarnell piece is realized via MIDI sequencing . At least that’s what my ears are telling me. This doesn’t sound at all like a piano – although I really like this piece and Katherine is an excellent musician.

But if I’m wrong, let me know.