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bryan teoh - music for modern dance
Release
Author: Tripnik on February 02 2008
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My roomates and I had an improvisatory chamber ensemble called icelu that was supposed to create a score for a modern dance company. Unfortunately we've all gone our separate creative ways and although we remain great friends and collaborators, this specific project fell on my shoulders. Due to the form of the choreography and complex subject matter, this was an incredibly difficult piece to write. Specifically, the color shifts and timing of sections was a challenge to manage properly.
This piece might make more sense if you could see the dance, however since it has yet to be premiered (and because I don't own any rights to the footage) I am unable to share it. Regardless, critical commentary is encouraged. | |
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02/02/08
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tapirA
This is really nice. Hope you post the dance after its premier!
02/02/08
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tapirA
Oh man it just gets better and better... second listen.
02/02/08
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jdg
love it. makes sense to me with out the dance.
02/02/08
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chimplogic
this is absolutely great. really lovely. thank you for sharing. and i hear you about wanting to show footage of the work you scored too...i deal with that all the time too. i've got scores galore but no footage to share with anyone either. regardless, would love to see this some day. nice to meet you.
peace / benjamin
02/02/08
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monty
excellent.
atmospheric stuff.
02/02/08
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astroid
lovely
02/02/08
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prugelknaben
wow. this is beautiful. i am full of awe.
02/02/08
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Fredo
yes, subtle and beautiful. Lovely music. 
02/03/08
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prugelknaben
i had to play this for choreographer wife. she loves it.
02/03/08
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nicknotis
Terrific! Every sound is interesting. I love the way the strings were used.
This composition stands very strongly on its own.
02/03/08
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room
beautiful - very touching - i really enjoyed it
02/04/08
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reehc
brilliant stuff!
02/04/08
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Tripnik
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm looking for critiques specifically in the areas of levels/eq and compositional through-thought. It's so sectional formally that I don't want it to sound like "and now for something completely different". To me, it sounds like parts start and then end and it could be like 3 different tracks, but maybe that's because I'm thinking of it in terms of how it breaks down with the movement? I tried to recycle textures or short motifs to blend the sections a bit more, but I'm not sure if it's enough. Any ideas?
02/04/08
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tantan
omg... tripnik, this is really amazing. the sounds, the composition, all of it. beautiful, somewhat unsettling.
I hear you about the transitions, but I can't complain. You bridge the first transition a bit with a long hung note that carries both timbre and pitch through. You could potentially leave a bit more of the uneasy background textures hanging between textures, and possibly introduce the guitar before the first transition just with one or two chords, that sort of thing. You really don't need to do much, however.
2nd transition is flawless. The mid section crescendos and burns out into the quiet rest of the third section, just beautifully. And besides, with the exception of the pianos and reversed notes and such all of the instruments continue with recognizable timbres.
I'm really sort of blown away by this. It's up there with some of the strongest contemporary scores that I love, for film, theater, or dance.
02/05/08
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flies
the transition from 1st to 2nd part was well handled. the two segments make sense together. The transition is fast, and it works. i'd call it 'declarative' in the sense that it's not trying to fool you but instead uses the transition as a positive gesture (john duncan's best work has this 'declarative' quality in spades, as would, say, morris louis or barnett newman).
the second transition doesn't function in the same way. IMHO i think the first one is working better, the smoothness feels kind of an obvious and less purposeful movement. I mean, it's ok, just not as strong/forceful. Force is what it lacks, I guess, but since it's going into a more spacious place perhaps this is appropriate.
I also find the acoustic guitar in the 2nd part a bit too 'folktop' for me, but that's certainly a matter of taste. I might reduce the levels on the guitar, and/or add filters/mild dsp (low cut/hp filter?) to push it a bit back in the mix, though again, my tastes are generally for the more abstract, less recognizable sounds so take this FWIW.
Overall i'd say the structure is actually one of the strongest elements of this piece. The sections all feel thematically related and they develop/shift the mood in a compelling way. The choice of sound elements/"orchestration" is well integrated.
Listening to this makes me want to get back into my own work (flagging while i'm in grad school), which i hope you will take as a compliment!
very nice stuff.
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