A Strange Arrangement

S2 Ep4 - Rob Talks About Modes: Lydian Mode

In this episode, I dig into a topic that always eluded me learning music: modes.  Focusing on the Lydian Mode, I rearrange two songs into this mode.
 
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Disclaimer
1:35 - Modes
3:28 - Lydian 
4:56 - Frere Jacques / Are You Sleeping
8:14 - When the Saints Go Marching In
 
Helpful Resources:
Book: Twentieth-Century Harmony, by Vincent Persichetti
Videos:
Modes, Explained Visually
What Modes Really Sound Like
How to Use the LYDIAN Mode

S2 Ep3 - Changing Sounds with Ari Voxx

Ari Voxx is a 2022 Wammie finalist and DC-native who's been performing and writing music for years. Previously known for her jazz and neo-soul vocals, she now focuses on writing music that is authentically her, transcending genres, with influences like Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Soundgarden, and Imogen Heap. Now featuring her 4 piece band, The Sad Lads, Ari’s sound is dreamy, indie, and melancholic.
 
In this episode, Ari talks to us about how she transformed her song "With Me", switching from acoustic instruments to an electronica setup with loop pedals and synth pads, and how the change reflects the song's message
 
find Ari's website here

S2 Ep2 - Jazz Arranging and Improv with Andy Statler

Andy Statler is the Pianist and bandleader for the Blue Dot Jazz Troupe, a piano trio that performs all over the DMV area.  In this episode, Andy talks about two arrangements he made with two different songs, how he pulls influences from across genre's, and how to make a new song work in the middle of a gig.
Find the Blue Dot Jazz Troupe here.
check out our website asamusicpodcast.com

S2 Ep1 - Flute and Guitar Pedals with Anh Phung

Anh Phung is an accomplished classical & jazz flautist, who for the past several years has been plugging her instrument into guitar pedals. The resulting sounds have been featured with performing groups such as Twisted Pine, and Tullstars, as well as on her popular social media pages.  In this episode, Anh helps break down how the use of electronic effects plays into music composition, and exploring and getting used to technology drives her creative process.
 
Pedals:
MTL Assembly: Count to 5 
Neunaber: Immerse Reverberator 
Chase Bliss Audio: MOOD
Hotone: Wally
Digitech: Whammy
 
 
 
Additional Music: 
 
Flute Concerto in G Major, Mozart
Orchestre National de France
Antal Dorati - Conductor
Jean-Pierre Rampal - Flute
 
 
Anh’s Groups:
Tullstars
Twisted Pine

UPDATE: Season 2!

This fall, we return with more artists and more songs.
 
Check out our website at asamusicpodcast.com

Ep. 13 - Bellwether Bayou

In this episode we talk to Laura Schwartz about her solo act, Bellwether Bayou, and how she uses her voice, her violin, and two pedals to make rich, textured songs.  In our second video, and our first live recording, we'll see how she builds short loops to create a full arrangement of Auld Lang Syne. 

Ep. 12 - James Fernando

Hailed as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” James Fernando creates music that lies at the intersection of jazz, classical, and electronic music. He relies on his genre-expanding original compositions to deliver thought provoking and exciting performances. He has several releases to his name, including his most recent release: The Grind, a collaboration with saxophonist Matt Lagan. 
On this episode, James talks with me about voice leading, musical expression, and how to find what sounds good to you, in my first in-person interview on the show.  
 
Find more about James at: www.jamesfernando.com/
 
 
Additional music:  
 
"Immersed" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
 
Introit - Resurrexi et Adhuc Tecum Sum 
by The Tudor Consort is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 International License.

Ep. 11 - Earl Cutter

When one note vibrates, in gently vibrates adjacent tones as well.  This is called the overtone series, or the harmonic series.  How does this relate to songs and arrangements?  How can we manipulate this series to do something new?
 
Earl Cutter is a multi-instrumentalist and music educator in Maryland - and a good friend of mine.  In this episode he talks about how the chords in Auld Lang Syne relate to one series of notes, and how he manipulates this series to make his arrangement. 
 
For more information on the harmonic series, I highly recommend this short paper by Mark Petersen:
https://amath.colorado.edu/pub/matlab/music/MathMusic.pdf
 

Ep. 10 - Rob Talks Rhythm 2

How can you trick the listener into hearing one thing, before revealing another?  There are a few ways to do it, and today Rob reveals one of them: by starting with a solo instrument playing a certain rhythm, then introducing another that changes the feel entirely.  

UPDATE! New Schedule

Quick Update regarding our next episodes