November 25th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
a slew of pop albums have come out in the last week.
Included are Beyonce’s “I am Sasha Fierce” and Kanye West’s “808 & Heartbreak”.
Though they are both mediocre there a couple of tracks worth listening to.
Beyonce’s Sasha is hardly fierce. The prodcution on this album is a huge change for the former Destiny Child’s frontlady. A nice one, at that. The production leaves ample room for the voice to fill- one problem- it shouldn’t. Beyonce’s voice is unimpressive and boring. The album relies on pop dance and primitive pop hooks to carry the weight of its mediocrity. The one track I find worth listening to is Diva (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u148T-RGz4).
With it’s fake 808 and sampling madness, it’s a proto-hip-hop throwback. It reminds me of the early days of rap, before there was “hip hop”. There is a nice primitivism about it- but again, Beyonce’s voice almost ruins it. She can’t spit it, she sounds bored or as if she is being told what and how to sing. I think this song should be covered by Lil Kim or some other “badass chick”.
Poor Kanye. I feel his pain. His mom died. The press that garnered him, turned on him and starting treating him like the pompous princess he is. Life is tough. The vocoder that West became enamored by on “Stronger” is omnipresent on this album. The fake 808 and that heavy vocoder-ing is a nice effect for one song. NOT an entire album. Erasure seems to be the biggest influence on this album. His sampling and usage of light synths are all used like period pieces- a common trend in his output. Kanye has catchy ideas and great beats- but this album is lazy and sounds like music for after school specials (if you ignore the whiny lyrics- life is so tough when you are a multi-millionaire) His swagger- the cocky rap-sing that he has utilized his entire career is back. One minute he acts like he wants to be Jay-Z, the next, Chris Brown or Ne-Yo. One thing going for (and also probably diluting) Kanye is that he is a serial collaborator. His videos are great and his album artwork unique.
Tags: 808 & heartbreak, beyonce, diva, i am sasha fierce, joe hallman, joseph hallman, kanye west, pop, pop music
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November 22nd, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
Phenom cellista Alisa Weilerstein, one of my favorite people and musicians, is playing with the NY Phil. Don’t miss it!
You can check out the review from last night’s concert:
here.
Tags: ali, alisa weilerstein, cello, composer, concerto, famous composer, jhallmanmusic, joe hallman, joseph hallman, new york, new york philharmonic, philadelphian, soloist
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November 18th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
Tags: composer, famous composer, hallman, jessica hornik, joe hallman, joseph hallman, new music for soprano, poems. poetry, radiant singing, soprano, washington post
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November 17th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
I am truly blessed to work with some of the world’s greatest musicians. Last night, Abigail Haynes Lennox, soprano, proved herself to be one of such musicians. A beautiful and angelic soprano voice is her gift. she brought the beautiful and bold natural poems of Jessica Hornik to life. Her infusion of acting and emotion into song was sublime. We are hoping to repeat the work this spring in Philly- I’ll keep you posted. You won’t want to miss the fusing of two amazing women (Hornik and Haynes Lennox). The Inscape Chamber Orchestra (DC), under the direction of Richard Scerbo, supported her with ample intelligence and beauty.
I’ll share a recording soon.
Tags: Abigail Haynes-Lennox, amazing soprano, beautiful, composer, D.C., Evan Solomon, famous composer, inscape chamber orchestra, jessica hornik, joe hallman, joseph hallman, philadelphia, philly, poet, Richard Scerbo, soprano
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November 10th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
Preceding the upcoming Inscape Chamber Music Concert, a statement on our collaboration from the poet [JESSICA HORNIK] who wrote the poetry being used in the concert listed below
*November 16, 2008: Inscape Chamber Music Project, with Abigail Haynes-Lennox, soprano. Premiere of Three poems of Jessica Hornik for soprano, oboe, clarinet, harp and strings. info here: http://www.inscapechambermusicproject.org/aboutus.html
“I was fortunate to discover Joe Hallman and his music through members of my family. His interest in my work as inspiration for his own has prompted us both to new thinking about the fusion of poetry and music. Through Joe’s enthusiasm, keen intelligence, and alertness to the sense of poetic phrases as well as the silences between them, the music inherent in the poetry blossoms into the music of the music.”
: Ms. Hornik joked that she is the “Hermit of Alplaus”. I can only hope that the public will petition for her poetry. It is the stuff, of life, and of love, and of experience. :
Tags: *[statement]:, Abigail Haynes-Lennox, bethesda, church of the holy redeemer, composer and poet collaboration, composer and poet interview, concert, Evan Solomon, famous American poet, inscape chamber music project, jessica hornik, joe hallman, joseph hallman, living poet, november 16th 2008 3pm, poem, poetry, Richard Scerbo, soprano and chamber ensemble, three poems of Jessica Hornik, washington d.c. vicinity
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November 5th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
In a surreal wash of emotion (might have been the election-watching beer), I heard and watched neighbors hoot and holler at the immminent election of Barack last night at around 11 pm. Just a week before the Phillies produced a similar reaction in my ‘hood. They won the World Series.
I am excited for the future of America. a post-racial, intelligent, innovative, and leading America.
It’s time.
Tags: america, barack, barack obama, elections, future, future of america, joe hallman, joseph hallman, obama, philadelphia, phillies, philly, post-racial, president, world series
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October 25th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
for film.
filmic scene 9.
here.
Tags: famous composer, famous film, famous film music, film, filmic music, for film, gogreengo, joe hallman, joseph hallman, movie, myspace, new film music, scene 9
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October 24th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
THIS is why.
Bjork’s new kickass release Nattura, featuring Thom Yorke on the “wind” vocals and the frenetic Brian Chippendale on drums.
Chippendale is my drum hero!
he is also apparently a Philly boy too….
Tags: bjork, brian chippendale, composer, drum set, drums, famous copmoser, joe hallman, joseph hallman, lightning bolt, philadelphia, philly
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October 19th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
Lois and I just worked together on a new piccolo sonata that she premiere in September 08. It is a fun, perky, joyful, but smart piece. She played it with Charlie Abramovich, piano (head of keyboard studies at Temple University and an accomplished composer and a celebrity accompanist)
Why the piccolo? How do you find so much potential in the smallest instrument of the orchestra?
The piccolo has great range - it can cut across a symphonic orchestra in the high register and the low register can resemble a simple wooden pipe. I like getting a rich tone from the instrument and frequently play it both expressively and sweetly, which aren’t the sounds one expects from the instrument.
When I was in eighth grade I performed a nineteenth century art song, one of literally a thousand older works written for piccolo solo at the turn-of-the-century. The audience’s response was amazing and from that early experience I decided that I wanted to become a piccoloist. Just being noticed by my teachers was a feat for a shy kid. An English teacher offered to accompany me and my shop teacher’s very fidgety son froze in his seat, dropped his jaw and didn’t move throughout the performance. My family started referring to me as the “pied piper”.
I learned from my teachers that the piccolo had the potential to have a Renaissance as a solo instrument. In college I studied with the great piccoloist John Krell of the Philadelphia Orchestra and later with his predecessor in the orchestra, Kazuo Tokito. The first commissioner of solo works for piccolo, Laurence Trott gave a full week masterclass on his discoveries, the most intriguing of which he had me perform- piccolo with prepared piano and color slides. The heart-wrenching photos of oil covered birds accompanied by the wailing piccolo had audience members crying.
Lois, how did you find Joe’s music?
At first I found the piccolo sonata straightforward to read. Its character is both witty and light. The more I played it the more I discovered within. It contains subtle surprises. Once you think you know where it’s heading the music takes a turn and you’re headed a different direction. I find it simple and complex at the same time.
You have premiered and commissioned tons of works for piccolo… how do you feel this new Sonata will fit in this canon you are creating?
I think it’s a great fit. I have not been disappointed with any of the works. I suppose one could argue that they all fit the genre of “Neo-classic”, but I find that each has a very different feel from the other. Joe’s work is unabashedly major and fun, both for the audience and for me!
Can you describe the process of collaboration? Did you find working with Joe any different than previous composers?
I’d describe it as two people that don’t know each other focused as one on their artistic creation. I don’t think working with any two composers has been a similar experience. Some are precise with every detail, some are only interested with the overall feel of the piece, some are happy with anything I want to try, some want me to try out different techniques for their effectiveness - most work within the broad area of the middle ground. I found Joe easy to work with. He produces the composition quickly and is not demanding.
Do you think you’ll work with Joe again? What’s next? more sonatas, chamber music, concerti??
I like the idea of a chamber work with piccolo and I’m indeed hoping to work with Joe again!
Do you have any concerts coming up (after September 26th’s “Bliss and Friends” concert in Glenside- where LH will premiere the Sonata for Piccolo and Piano):
We have another performance of the sonata coming up at Andrea Clearfield’s Salon on November 30. Email Andrea at aclearfi@aol.com for details.
Tags: american composer, celebrity composer, celebrity pianist, charles abramovich, charlie abramovich, famous composer, hallman, joe hallman, joseph hallman, lois herbine, philadelphia composer, piccolo, piccolo music new, piccolo sonata, sonata new, temple university
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October 17th, 2008 by jhallmanmusic
* New concert added: November 30 (Sunday at 8pm) at the Salon- Andrea Clearfield’s 22 year old institution. Lois Herbine will again play the perky piccolo sonata. Check it out. $10 donation.
The Salon is a great and unique venue, in her home. (I personally LOVE this idea and am looking forward to producing some low-key house concerts VERY SOON- keep eyes fixed here.) The concerts present a mix of all types of music- jazz, singer-songwriters, world, and classical. Get their early as seating is limited and precious.
* I have been working on some new pieces as of late for wind quintet and b.cl (like Janacek’s Mladi) for the Georgetown (DC) Quintet with the pretty impressive Evan Solomon on bass clarinet. Jenna Jameson
(American porn star) has been my research subject for a song coming it for NYC’s Avian Ensemble and Philly’s Chamber Music Now.
* Pianist Hsin-ni Liu and I are preparing for the premiere of “Canciones” a series of five movements, after poetry by Antonio Machado. This concert is at Carnegie Hall. Tickets range in price and can be bought here. There is a great cocktail reception after and meet and greet with Ms. Liu and myself- should be a blast!! you can check out the previously posted interview with Ms. Liu here.
* Nov 16’s concert with Inscape Chamber Music Project with Abigail Haynes-Lennox, soprano should be a wonderful one. This Dc-based chamber orchestra that morphs into different ensembles depending on the repertoire is a group of young virtuosi. It is always a pleasure to work with them. I have set three poems by Jessica Hornik, my favorite living poet.
* I am doing some pre-planning on a frame-piece: the idea came from the novel HAKAWATI. I am attempting to coax reinterpretations of myths and creation stories from a wide array of (pretty amazing (and famous-ish) poets. I am over the moon about the responses I have received thus far.
* In light of Iceland’s bank meltdown this diatribe on Icelandic independence and childishness from Bjork (one of my favorite “pop” musicians) has an even more prescient tone: http://www.nattura.info/frettir/nr/24
Tags: american, andrea clearfield, bjork, carnegie hall, composer, famous composer, famous poet, georgetown wind quintet, house concerts, iceland, independence, inscape chamber music project, janacek, jenna jameson, jessica hornik, joe hallman, joseph hallman, lois herbine, nattura, piccolom the salon, poet, porn star, wind quijntet
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