solo_music

David Gunn [composer, writer, isosogist]

ContraDiction
double bass (2003)

Written for master contrabassist P. Kellach Waddle, who also performed it.

L’histoire du clarinette
Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, narrator, slide projector & screen, crackers and other props (1997)

Six musical sections alternate with six spoken ones that are enriched by 39 illustrative slides and various instrumental demonstrations to produce a vivid history of the clarinet.

part 01

part 02

part 03

part 04

part 05

part 06

part 07

part 08

part 09

part 10

part 11

score

the text

images

Utopiano
piano (2004)

Subtitled, “A Fantasy on Metropolis”. In Fritz Lang’s 1927 movie, Metropolis, a future humanity is divided into workers and thinkers. Reflecting some of the movie’s sensibilities, Utopiano begins with automaton-like rhythms that are later displaced by friendlier counter-themes. After trading thematic material, the two disparate entities eventually commingle. Still, there is an underlying slightly sinister current of Utopia-no! to the piece.

Fogwalls
piano (1997)

Excerpted from an evening-long multimedia piece called “Circular Screaming” created by Dennis Báthory-Kitsz and myself. I designed it for electronic-only playback; it was impossible to play on a normal piano, even if the performer sported a prehensile third hand. Nonetheless, one pianist asked me to revise it for human fingers. He played it. Still, this is how it should’ve sounded.

Pianomadic
piano (2005)

Written for composer Noah Creshevsky’s 60th birthday concert (celebrated at the 14th Annual International Electro-Acoustic Music Festival). Don’t let the restrained beginning lull you into a false sense of security.

Custom Mary
violin (2008)

Lunar Mural 1
alto flute + playback (2009)

Written for flutist Laurel Ann Maurer. The playback is not so much an electronic soundscape as it is a band without the onus of Union dues. Premiered at The Brick Elephant, N.Y.

Flutehills
flute + playback (2010)

Take one Foothills (see Chamber Music). Subtract main instrumental line. Add one live flute line. Voilà – Flutehills!

Lunar Mural 2
bass flute + playback (2011)

Also written for flutist Laurel Ann Maurer, this seven-minute excursion in The Phrygian Mode is ideal for anyone with a bass flute in his or her kit.

O Solo Violo
viola + playback (2013)

Written for über-violist Tatiana Trono. Not yet performed.

ContraDiction double bass (2003) Written for master contrabassist P. Kellach Waddle, who also performed it.	L’histoire du clarinette Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, narrator, slide projector & screen, crackers and other props (1997) Six musical sections alternate with six spoken ones that are enriched by 39 illustrative slides and various instrumental demonstrations to produce a vivid history of the clarinet. part 01 part 02 part 03 part 04 part 05 part 06 part 07 part 08 part 09 part 10 part 11 score the text images	Utopiano piano (2004) Subtitled, “A Fantasy on Metropolis”. In Fritz Lang’s 1927 movie, Metropolis, a future humanity is divided into workers and thinkers. Reflecting some of the movie’s sensibilities, Utopiano begins with automaton-like rhythms that are later displaced by friendlier counter-themes. After trading thematic material, the two disparate entities eventually commingle. Still, there is an underlying slightly sinister current of Utopia-no! to the piece.
Fogwalls piano (1997) Excerpted from an evening-long multimedia piece called “Circular Screaming” created by Dennis Báthory-Kitsz and myself. I designed it for electronic-only playback; it was impossible to play on a normal piano, even if the performer sported a prehensile third hand. Nonetheless, one pianist asked me to revise it for human fingers. He played it. Still, this is how it should’ve sounded.	Pianomadic piano (2005) Written for composer Noah Creshevsky’s 60th birthday concert (celebrated at the 14th Annual International Electro-Acoustic Music Festival). Don’t let the restrained beginning lull you into a false sense of security.	Custom Mary violin (2008) Written for the fiftieth birthday of Mary Rowell, a violinist. Contains snippets of birthdaylike melody. Not yet performed.
Lunar Mural 1 alto flute + playback (2009) Written for flutist Laurel Ann Maurer. The playback is not so much an electronic soundscape as it is a band without the onus of Union dues. Premiered at The Brick Elephant, N.Y.	Flutehills flute + playback (2010) Take one Foothills (see Chamber Music). Subtract main instrumental line. Add one live flute line. Voilà – Flutehills!	Lunar Mural 2 bass flute + playback (2011) Also written for flutist Laurel Ann Maurer, this seven-minute excursion in The Phrygian Mode is ideal for anyone with a bass flute in his or her kit.
O Solo Violo viola + playback (2013) Written for über-violist Tatiana Trono. Not yet performed.