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Electrum Modular
United States
Приєднався 4 вер 2021
This channel is a logbook of my basement experiments in modular synthesis.
Minimalism for Modular #2: Ann Southam's "Rivers"
I’ve been playing Ann Southam’s exquisite pieces on the piano for a few months, and have been discovering lots of ideas in them that could be applied to a modular system.
This video is also a tribute to a composer who should be as much a household name as Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley are.
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Rivers 1st set
4:22 Rivers 2nd set
7:18 Rivers 3rd set
Previous video in this series: ua-cam.com/video/oozXXq-U5U0/v-deo.html
Earlier video on polychords on the Subharmonicon: ua-cam.com/video/mmwFYLs6PqU/v-deo.html
A great starting point for those curious about Southam is Christina Petrowska-Quilico’s recording - amazingly, the only recording - of Rivers:
Christina Petrowska-Quilico, Ann Southam (Centrediscs’ Canadian Composers Portraits series, 2012); disc 1 is a documentary about Southam; discs 2 and 3 features Rivers.
Another favorite of mine is Eve Egoyan's recording of Southam's late work, Simple Lines of Enquiry:
eveegoyan.bandcamp.com/album/simple-lines-of-enquiry-by-ann-southam
To listen to Southam’s electronic music, get Seastill (Furiant Records, 1999), available from Canadian Music Center:
cmccanada.org/shop/cd-fmdc-4604-2/
Southam’s sheet music is also available from Canadian Music Center:
collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Music-Library.aspx?lang=en-CA
My video draws on some excellent studies of Southam:
Amelia G. Yates, “Ann Southam's Solo Piano Music: A Performance Guide” (doctoral thesis, The University of Western Ontario, 2021):
ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/8181/
Sarah Feltham, “Middle Power Music: Modernism, Ideology, and Compromise in English Canadian Cold War Composition” (doctoral thesis, Stony Brook University, 2015):
repo.library.stonybrook.edu/xmlui/handle/11401/76555#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&r=0&xywh=-769%2C-1%2C2811%2C1650
Tamara Bernstein, “Isn’t That Life, in a Way: Trying to Accommodate Dissonance?” Reflections on Lesbianism and the Life and Music of Ann Southam,” Circuit: Musiques contemporaines 31, no. 1 (2021)
www.erudit.org/en/journals/circuit/2021-v31-n1-circuit05953/1076404ar/
On Southam’s earlier, electronic music, I recommend Andra McCartney, Creating Worlds for my Music to Exist: How Women Composers of Electroacoustic Music Make Place for their Voices (MA thesis, York University, 1994): 43-53:
www.academia.edu/194482/Creating_Worlds_for_my_Music_to_Exist_How_Women_Composers_of_Electroacoustic_Music_Make_Place_for_their_Voices&ved=2ahUKEwi6w4zfgaeIAxUcMNAFHTsjBmgQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3OXlFbLBqw_tCrmI-KOk3W
Gear used:
Expert Sleeper’s Disting EX
ALM’s Pamela’s New Workout
ALM’s MFX
ALM’s Pip Slope
Tesseract’s Step Fader II
Tesseract's Sweet Sixteen
Qu-bit’s Bloom
Doepfer’s A151 sequential switch
Acid Rain’s Junction
Dnipro’s Metamorph
Terry RILEY, 1972 photograph credit: © Bernard Perrine. All rights reserved 2023/Bridgeman Images
#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #minimalism #minimalistmusic #electronicmusic
This video is also a tribute to a composer who should be as much a household name as Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley are.
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Rivers 1st set
4:22 Rivers 2nd set
7:18 Rivers 3rd set
Previous video in this series: ua-cam.com/video/oozXXq-U5U0/v-deo.html
Earlier video on polychords on the Subharmonicon: ua-cam.com/video/mmwFYLs6PqU/v-deo.html
A great starting point for those curious about Southam is Christina Petrowska-Quilico’s recording - amazingly, the only recording - of Rivers:
Christina Petrowska-Quilico, Ann Southam (Centrediscs’ Canadian Composers Portraits series, 2012); disc 1 is a documentary about Southam; discs 2 and 3 features Rivers.
Another favorite of mine is Eve Egoyan's recording of Southam's late work, Simple Lines of Enquiry:
eveegoyan.bandcamp.com/album/simple-lines-of-enquiry-by-ann-southam
To listen to Southam’s electronic music, get Seastill (Furiant Records, 1999), available from Canadian Music Center:
cmccanada.org/shop/cd-fmdc-4604-2/
Southam’s sheet music is also available from Canadian Music Center:
collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Music-Library.aspx?lang=en-CA
My video draws on some excellent studies of Southam:
Amelia G. Yates, “Ann Southam's Solo Piano Music: A Performance Guide” (doctoral thesis, The University of Western Ontario, 2021):
ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/8181/
Sarah Feltham, “Middle Power Music: Modernism, Ideology, and Compromise in English Canadian Cold War Composition” (doctoral thesis, Stony Brook University, 2015):
repo.library.stonybrook.edu/xmlui/handle/11401/76555#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&r=0&xywh=-769%2C-1%2C2811%2C1650
Tamara Bernstein, “Isn’t That Life, in a Way: Trying to Accommodate Dissonance?” Reflections on Lesbianism and the Life and Music of Ann Southam,” Circuit: Musiques contemporaines 31, no. 1 (2021)
www.erudit.org/en/journals/circuit/2021-v31-n1-circuit05953/1076404ar/
On Southam’s earlier, electronic music, I recommend Andra McCartney, Creating Worlds for my Music to Exist: How Women Composers of Electroacoustic Music Make Place for their Voices (MA thesis, York University, 1994): 43-53:
www.academia.edu/194482/Creating_Worlds_for_my_Music_to_Exist_How_Women_Composers_of_Electroacoustic_Music_Make_Place_for_their_Voices&ved=2ahUKEwi6w4zfgaeIAxUcMNAFHTsjBmgQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3OXlFbLBqw_tCrmI-KOk3W
Gear used:
Expert Sleeper’s Disting EX
ALM’s Pamela’s New Workout
ALM’s MFX
ALM’s Pip Slope
Tesseract’s Step Fader II
Tesseract's Sweet Sixteen
Qu-bit’s Bloom
Doepfer’s A151 sequential switch
Acid Rain’s Junction
Dnipro’s Metamorph
Terry RILEY, 1972 photograph credit: © Bernard Perrine. All rights reserved 2023/Bridgeman Images
#eurorack #modular #modularsynth #minimalism #minimalistmusic #electronicmusic
Переглядів: 1 526
Відео
Minimalism for Modular #I: Additive Sequencing
Переглядів 1,5 тис.21 день тому
In this new series of videos, I’ll be applying the ideas and techniques of minimalist composers to modular synthesis. First up: the linear additive process. NOTE: this is an example of an isomelody. Whereas isorhythm retains the same rhythmic pattern while varying the pitch sequence, isomelody retains the pitch sequence while varying the rhythm. Modules used: Tesseract’s Step Fader II Expert Sl...
Switches (Eurorack sequencing without sequencers)
Переглядів 906Місяць тому
A sequential switch is an essential utility for modular music-making. But Disting EX's multi-switch offers up to SIX switches that can be configured in multiple ways: bidrectional, sequential, random, ping-pong, etc. And each switch is essentially a double switch: it can alternate its inputs AND outputs. Best of all, these sequences can work separately but they can also work together, sharing t...
Generative ambient on the modular (Subharmonicon + Disting EX)
Переглядів 669Місяць тому
An ambient piece featuring the Moog Subharmonicon’s sequencer with Disting EX’s multisample player. Detailed patch notes in the video. Other modules used: Dnipro's Metamorph ALM’s Pamela’s New Workout Mutable Instruments' Beads Intellijel's Scales #ambient #ambientmusic #modularsynth #eurorack #moog #subharmonicon #electronicmusic
Inverted echoes (a modular patch idea)
Переглядів 579Місяць тому
The aim here - besides trying out the TSNM as an expressive keyboard - was to generate an inverted echo, so that a descending melody comes back as an ascending one, or vice versa. (I stole this idea from Bach, who often used contrapuntal inversion, playing the theme “upside-down”). Mutable Instruments’ Beads (in delay mode) is perfect for this, but any module with a long delay would work. The o...
Performance sequencing
Переглядів 3343 місяці тому
Most Eurorack sequencers allow for some interaction during live performance - muting and unmuting steps or changing the sequence's length, direction etc. But typically the notes themselves remain fixed. With the sequencer mode on Doboz's TSNM, you get something closer to live improvisation - almost like a looper. Other modules used: Intellijel’s Dixie II Shakmat’s Banshee Reach ALM's Pamela's N...
Buchla Music Easel in Eurorack!
Переглядів 1,8 тис.4 місяці тому
Unveiling of the Easel-esque system! Demonstration includes three patches, with notes on each. #electronicmusic #buchla #modularmusic #modularsynth #eurorack
Switches + Faders = Power Sequencer!
Переглядів 6765 місяців тому
I love my main sequencer (Qu-bit Bloom), but it doesn’t have cv control over sequence length, direction, clock rate, glide, etc. Then I realized that I had two ingredients to build a more patch-programmable, four-channel sequencer: Disting’s Multi-Switch mode, which offers up to 6 customizable switches, and a fader bank, Tesseract Modular's Sweet Sixteen... Further details in the patch notes Ot...
Sonic sculptures (generative modular music)
Переглядів 9845 місяців тому
(For Paula) This patch was inspired by hours (weeks?) of listening to Morton Feldman’s exquisite music. It ended up quite different harmonically from Feldman’s pieces, partly due to the limitations of a modular system. The envelope generators and attenuators required some tweaking to get that balance between repetition and divergence, revolving and evolving. In retrospect, I could have left lon...
Interlocking hands: Minimalist generative piano (Qu-bit Bloom, Disting EX)
Переглядів 1,2 тис.6 місяців тому
Recently I’ve been playing minimalist pieces on the piano (Phillip Glass, Howard Skempton) that involve both polyrhythms and overlapping hands. For this video, I transferred the idea to my modular system, splitting an F minor sixth chord across two sequencer channels, and clocking the channels at different rates (x2, x3). The sequencer (Qu-bit Bloom) generates 64 variations on this pattern, a s...
Flip your arps! Generating complex arpeggios with soft sync
Переглядів 2,6 тис.8 місяців тому
To begin phasing out my Behringer Neutron (the first piece of electronic gear I ever bought, back in 2018), I’ve just acquired two new oscillators: Intellijel’s Dixie II and Shakmat’s Banshee Reach. Both feature a “soft sync” option, whereas Neutron has only hard sync. Oscillator sync is generally touted for its distinctive timbral effects. I’ve never seen any discussion of its use at lower (su...
Terry Riley, Keyboard Study no.1 (as generative modular patch)
Переглядів 1,6 тис.9 місяців тому
There are several modular synth renditions of Terry Riley’s “In C” out there, but none (as far as I know) of his keyboard studies, so here goes… 0:00 Introduction 1:12 Performance Although Riley played this piece in 1964-65, he did not write it down until the 1990s, and only published it in 2015: www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Riley-Terry-The-Piano-Works/2175783 His instructions in this book are pret...
Terry Riley's In the Summer (Buchla Music Easel)
Переглядів 10 тис.10 місяців тому
[NOTE: I forgot to mention: the envelope is set to "self," i.e. cycling!] I’ve been reading Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco’s excellent book, Analog Days. Apparently, when Don Buchla unveiled his prototype Buchla Box at the San Francisco Tape Music Center in 1965, the most enthusiastic witness was Terry Riley, the pioneer of minimalist music. “I think I’ll do some music on that,” Riley said. Sadl...
Aeolian pendulum: Buchla Music Easel with Eurorack
Переглядів 2,6 тис.10 місяців тому
Some tricks and ideas for combining the one-of-a-kind Buchla Music Easel with your Eurorack modular gear. The Disting Mk4 algorithm used here is E-7 (Euro to Buchla Converter). In a new, beta firmware (presumably to be included in the next firmware update), it has a fifth parameter added called "coarser", which allows you to reach the V/octave of an Easel. The "Aeolian pendulum" chord pattern w...
Two Sketches: Doodling on the Buchla Music Easel
Переглядів 1,4 тис.11 місяців тому
This video suggests some ideas for extracting extra melodic mileage (and an accompanying bass line) from the Easel’s 5-step sequencer, using the keyboard arpeggiator and external delay and reverb. Further patch details in the captions. Other gear used: Mutable Instruments' Beads ALM's Pamela's New Workout ALM's MFX Expert Sleepers' Disting Mk4 Intellijel Out #modular #buchlamusiceasel #buchla #...
Allemande (Disting EX's Poly Wavetable)
Переглядів 593Рік тому
Allemande (Disting EX's Poly Wavetable)
Tips for patching the Subharmonicon (+ classic house track)
Переглядів 2,1 тис.Рік тому
Tips for patching the Subharmonicon ( classic house track)
Hoquetus modularis (featuring Disting EX)
Переглядів 994Рік тому
Hoquetus modularis (featuring Disting EX)
Polyphonic Plaits: Canon in G Minor, in Four Parts
Переглядів 1,3 тис.Рік тому
Polyphonic Plaits: Canon in G Minor, in Four Parts
Do Neutrons dream of complex oscillators?
Переглядів 936Рік тому
Do Neutrons dream of complex oscillators?
What would a fully subharmonic instrument sound like?
Переглядів 1,1 тис.Рік тому
What would a fully subharmonic instrument sound like?
Song of Aeolus: Using the Subharmonicon with an external quantizer
Переглядів 5 тис.Рік тому
Song of Aeolus: Using the Subharmonicon with an external quantizer
Essential music theory for the Moog Subharmonicon
Переглядів 5 тис.Рік тому
Essential music theory for the Moog Subharmonicon
Eurohack #2: Polyrhythms on Qu-bit Bloom
Переглядів 845Рік тому
Eurohack #2: Polyrhythms on Qu-bit Bloom
First track on the new Super-Subharmonicon
Переглядів 940Рік тому
First track on the new Super-Subharmonicon
Ratcheting (and multi-track recording with the Disting EX)
Переглядів 735Рік тому
Ratcheting (and multi-track recording with the Disting EX)
Spirals (Ooda sequencer with Disting EX poly wavetable)
Переглядів 5412 роки тому
Spirals (Ooda sequencer with Disting EX poly wavetable)
I don't know what to write...
Beautifully executed and beautifully explained. I learned a lot watching this. Thank you!
Thank you for watching and commenting!
Hi! This is great, and advanced use of Pam's too. One question though - where does the piano sound originate from - is it a sample? Overall very clever use of your modules, I will certainly watch this again to figure out how you use them all.
Thanks! Yes, it's a multisampled felt piano which comes with the Disting EX.
where simplicity meets creativity... The minimalistic modular setup is just mesmerizing... and the way the piano weaves through it all... it's hypnotic... You can feel the space and the silence... every note carefully placed... letting your mind drift... It's not just music... it's an experience... something truly unique and special... I could listen to this for hours... and still discover new layers... It's like a journey... and I'm totally lost in it...
Thanks Hessence, my friend - really appreciate your kind words! And I'm looking forward to your next video!
I love this series, so well done, more please!
Thanks so much. Will try to keep them coming!
Said it before and I’ll say it again: superb video
Thanks mate!
Young Mark Rodriguez Elizabeth Walker Maria
Terrific as always, love the mini doc and piece combo. Music sounds lovely.
Thanks - great to hear!
Whoa! Is that sample being played a stock disting sound? Which algorithm? I need to poke around more with the Disting!
Yes, this sample comes pre-loaded on Disting EX. You can access it on the SD Multisample algo.
@@electrummodularmusic you're the best! Thank you so much! BTW, I failed to mention it but this is a great video! very inspirational!
Impressive and super inspiring.
Thanks so much, Johan!
Wonderful. Aesthetically pleasing both musically and visually.
Thanks Marc, much appreciated!
Excellent presentation. Thank you!
Thanks for watching, marc!
Really cool!!
Thanks Steven!
As being already said: Your series “Minimalism forModular” is outstanding!! 👍 Such a brilliant piece of art / documentary. You make us hungry for more and more 😊 bravo and please 🙏 keep going. I love it ❤
Thank you for making me a trip to our Library / Archive in Prague to get know more!! I love it and want to discover more
This is really encouraging to hear - thanks!!
wayminnit?!# those piano sounds are coming from DistingEX??? as samples or WTH is going on here?
Yes, I forgot to mention that! They are the Soft Piano samples, from Spitfire LABS. They come pre-loaded on the Disting EX, and can also be downloaded for free from the Spitfire website.
Lovely video and music! 👌👌
Thanks John! 🙏🙏🙏
"… who should be household name like Steve Reich, Philipp Glass, and Terry Riley." I first thought that these three are indeed household names - than it dawned to me that you mean Ann Southam (and the many more unknown minimalist composers). As a non-native Speaker, this was a bit hard to parse. But yes, the short piece from Ann sounded quite intriguing. I love this intro to give context! Edit: The third set it is for me!
Thanks, glad you like it - and interesting to hear you preferred the third set! I've edited that sentence so the meaning is clearer - cheers!
@@electrummodularmusic Now the sentence is no longer a riddle to me … 😁
Your series "Minimalism for Modular" is fantastic.
Thanks Domenico, that's great to hear!
Such a nice instrument, wish my volca modular was this capable. Love the music easel
Yes, it's a great instrument. Sadly not mine!
what pnw used for？
It's clocking both Metamorph and Bloom - that's all
Great patch idea and jam. Well done !
Thanks thamel, I've been enjoying your Easel videos too!
Wow Extremely well done.
Thanks Justin, I appreciate that!
can't you just use sequence mode instead of holding the finger down?
I wanted to use external midi clock to drive the sequencer, so that required holding my finger down unfortunately!
Really helpful content with a nice little jam. Thanks for this short little explanation of how to use switches more effectively.
Thanks Paul, glad it was useful!
Nice work here. Inspiring and informative. Keep them coming!
Thanks Rick, that's great to hear! Will do!
Nice track - lovely... And a nice little tutorial in how to approach a specific way of composing it.
Cheers Paul, I'm happy to hear this!
fantastic, thank you.
Thanks so much!
so gorgeous... very nice patch.. thanks for sharing this beauty
Thanks Hessence, much appreciated!
Lovely and listenable
So glad to hear that!
Sounds fantastic!
Excellent, thanks for listening!
Gorgeous. Thanks!!
Excellent, thanks Jase!
This is a great demo. I learned a lot on this one. Thanks!
Thanks - glad it was helpful!
fascinating
Thanks Frederic!
Such a great tutorial, more please! What is sweet sixteen doing here? I know you can connect it via i2c to the disting ex, but is it connected to the step fader?
Thanks for watching! Yes, the Sweet Sixteen is connected via i2c to the EX. A while ago, I made a basic preset for the SD Multisample that assigns the various faders to envelope, gain, etc. I just used the faders to fine-tune a few parameters, but otherwise it's not doing much in this patch. And no, unfortunately SS can't speak to the Step Fader. Maybe Mango might be persuaded to add that as a feature!😉
Very nice! Thanks!
Thank you for watching!
<3
👊
so fucking cool. gonna try to recreate some concepts in VCV rack to sequence my moog mother 32, we'll see how it goes
Cheers! It should sound pretty good on the Mother 32!
very cool!
Much appreciated!
I'll have to try that. Thx.
Cheers, have fun!
awesome!
Hey Luca!! Cheers for watching - and go Carlton Blues!
Good modular content without clickbait or advertising! Bread from heaven
That's great to hear!!
Oh mate, this is informative and wonderful 😊
Cheers mate!
That's interesting! I would rather think of "programming" algorithms to get this result, but using some modular gear for it looks much more like a "real" achievement … ;-)
Thanks! Unfortunately, I have no programming skills, so have to try to make things work in modular!
@@electrummodularmusic What I forgot to mention at first listening: Reminds me of Gamelan music (at least in sound, but also in overall "harmonics"). Which is one source of inspiration for minimal music, if I remember right.
Another banger. Informative and musical. Step Fader looks fun.
Thanks man! Yes, SF is a powerful sequencer - I should have got one earlier! BTW, I've been enjoying your Cycle of Liminal Rites - great album!
Awesome - this is very inspiring! Keep up the good work!
Great to hear this - thanks!
that´s the right vibe!! oh yessss
Cheers, Hessencemusic!
Sweet patch. I didn't know Disting did that despite having one.
Thanks for watching. Yes, I don't think the multi-switch gets as much love as the SD multisample. I'm contemplating getting another EX to use both algorithms together!
Very clever use of switches. Gives me a few ideas for patches to try with O_C
Thanks SynthDad! I've been enjoying your videos - I recently watched the Step Fader video, which convinced me to pull the trigger. It's such a great module - will likely be in my next video!
Excellent work on this video breaking down the technique you used. And the result sounds great!
Cheers!
Beautiful results!
Glad to hear it!