We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

MOSAIQUE

by Greg Mills

/
1.
For Berio 08:58
2.
For Messiaen 07:47
3.
For Carter 1 04:52
4.
For Carter 2 02:19
5.
For Xenakis 07:08
6.
7.
8.
For Babbit 07:10
9.

about

Improvised Classical Music. Mosaique is created in the spirit and practice of free improv utilizing a language of musical possibilities based in Modern Classical. Each of these nine improvised compositions is dedicated to a different 20th century composer whose unique voice lives as concept and inspiration, the ghost in the machine of Mills' considerable technical and imaginative skills.


Improvised music allows for endless possible formings and forms. Among my favorite modern composers are those who have inspired me to improvise within structures suggested by my experience of their compositions. Sometimes this has resulted in a specific piece and at other times a larger body of work. I would characterize this current collection, MOSAIQUE, as nine free improvisations, each within a unique structure suggested by these following ideas, instructions or contemplations:

Berio was inspired by Sequenzas, his masterpiece collection of virtuoso solo works written for a variety of instruments. Messiaen explores dense chordal and arpeggiated structures with made-to-order bird calls. Carter 1 and Carter 2 were suggested by several of his late piano pieces written while the composer was in his nineties. The first deals with meandering diads having stark linear improvisations above and below the chords. The 2nd is a perpetuum mobile with no pedaling. Xenakis’ instructions are: “Divorce yourself from the human impulse of melody, harmony and rhythm and let the constellations be your guide.” Takemitsu also has written instructions: “Immerse yourself in a Japanese garden. Realize the power of solace as water flows down a stream”. Stockhausen is inspired by two of his Klavierstucke. Instructions for the first part of this improvisation are: “Play a chosen chord repeatedly; play a chosen note repeatedly. Improvise around these fixed occurrences.” The second half is played wearing gloves in order to play cluster glissandi safely. Babbitt is a pointillistic piece that attempts to not favor any one pitch, register, dynamic, attack or specific interval. There is a judicious use of all three pedals. The last piece Lutoslawski was inspired by his 2nd Symphony. The first part of this improvisation, Hesitant, is meant to suggest forms whereas the second part, Direct, is meant to realize forms, creating complete statements.
-- Greg Mills

credits

released April 15, 2017

Recorded February 7, 2016
At The Tavern Of The Fine Arts, St. Louis
Special thanks to Aaron Johnson
Recording & Mastering: Tazu Marshall
Produced by: Jay Zelenka/Freedonia Music
Cover Art: photograph of Sibelius Monument, Helsinki
Sculpture by Finnish artist Eila Hiltunen
Special thanks to Katherine Rynor for allowing use of her original photo © 2016

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Freedonia Music St. Louis, Missouri

Freedonia Music was born in 2006 to promote Creative Improvised Music.
Offering a
catalog of archival performances and contemporary recordings of New Music from the heart of the heartlands. Music to wake up your ears!

contact / help

Contact Freedonia Music

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this album or account

If you like MOSAIQUE, you may also like: