Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Trevor Babb's debut solo recording, Warmth, is a collection of kaleidoscopic compositions for multiple electric guitars that synthesizes new classical compositional rigor with the rhythms, timbres, and energy of popular genres with which the electric guitar is so intimately associated. With three compositions by household names in minimalist and experimental music and three otehrs by younger, emerging compositional voices - including Babb himself - Warmth demonstrates the expressive versatility of the electric guitar through a plethora of traditional and experimental playing techniques in the context of meticulous compositional craft for ensembles of two to fifteen instruments. Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint was the starting point for the recording as it is one of the most well-known pnieces for multiple electric guitar.s While the piece has been recorded by guitarists many times over, Babb's performance of Reich's work is beautifully orchestrated with special attention to the blending of different sonic colors of several different guitars. The music on this recording is simultaneously meditative and ecstatic and Babb's close attention to sound color and innovative approaches to guitar playing make this record a musical thrill that constantly challenges our expectations of an electric guitar's musical capabilities.

Classical Music

Although peaceful international dialogue may seem as elusive as ever, the shining exceptions are all the more heart-warming. Two Syrian and Chinese musicians met in Minnesota. The rest is history. Both artists came from lands going through political strife- Issam Rafea living through the recent war in Syria, and Gao Hong growing up during the Cultural Revolution. Now, they continue to pursue their musical visions in the United States. They both are performers and composers and love to improvise, just like they have had to navigate their lives to survive. They both use their hearts to play music, and both believe that music needs to come from their souls and deepest feelings. Life As Is is a reflection of both of their lives. It is their life stories, as reflected in the track titles. Both of them "Walking the Distance" to America to follow their dreams. They recorded the music on a rainy summer day, and even though they didn't talk about what "Summer Rain" should sound like, they shared the exact same feelings. Their lives have not always been easy, and that is expressed in "Undercurrent" and the uncertainty of their lives in "Up and Down." But even in their darkest hours, they still remained optimistic and hopeful, as if there were a "Hidden Dance" soon to appear. Sometimes, living so far away, they get "Homesick" and have a "Heavy Heart" as they miss their homelands and families, but they keep working hard and chasing their dreams as in "Chasing Butterflies."And they are thankful for the music they have made together in their "Chance Encounter." They share their happy "Childhood" stories in their music. So many wonderful stories, but they realize life is so short, just like a "Short Film." This is their life, these their tales- "Life As Is!"

Classical Music

Conceived and built in 1931 by musical forward-thinkers Leon Theremin and Henry Cowell, the Rhythmicon was a musical keyboard instrument. The online one made by Nick Didkovsky, of Dr. Nerve fame, in 2003 takes the instrument to it's next logical step. In the hands of some of today's leading sound artist/composers, the Virtual Rhythmicon makes music that shimmers, pulses and haunts with a beauty that would do it's more famous cousin, the theremin, proud.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music