Heartbreaker (2019)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Violin Shannon Reilly, Rap Glory
Audio recording and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This piece is set as a lover’s quarrel between the rapper and a violinist. The rapper, full of bravado announces he's just a heartbreaker and she just has to accept that, and the violinist plays back her response, which is basically "hell no".
After the opening statements the piece develops as a battle - the rapper raps 4 bars, then violinist plays back 4 bars, trading back and forth, each trying to outdo the other. The argument becomes increasingly chaotic, until it self destructs, and out of the dust comes a love song.
The love song lyrics are from a 14th century Italian love sonnet and are sung by a tenor, representing the rappers innermost thoughts. The lyrics tell how one Sunday morning he went to church and saw the most beautiful girl and fell truly, deeply, in love. The love song turns into a tango, which becomes more and more assertive, until it transforms into the opening argument theme. The lyrics have been switched up for their reconciliation, except he can't help throwing in that he's still a heartbreaker, and of course she doesn't take it, which looks like it’s going to lead to another argument, and probably another love songs and another reconciliation, but that's another song.
Ultimately, Heartbreaker is a piece about fighting with a person you love. It’s about the contradictions and emotions that happen in such a fight. And it’s about the power of music to communicate, sometime even more powerfully than words.
Full cast and crew:
Violin Shannon Reilly, Rap Glory
Concertino: Violin Holly Workman, Viola Josh Lohner, Cello Lars Kirvan, Bass Eric Polenik, Tenor Pablo Bustos, Dance Travis Widrick, Dance Melissa Parkhust
Ripieno: Violin Liana Koteva Kirvan, Violin Aika Ito Violin, Ellen Sonnenberg, Violin Julie Gray, Viola Neil Miller, Cello Andy Barnhart, Bass Drew Bunson, Harpsichord Marc Webster
Additional video by Dan Finklestein, Makeup and additional artistic direction for Shannon/Glory by Diana Elena Alvarez
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Violin Shannon Reilly, Rap Glory
Audio recording and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This piece is set as a lover’s quarrel between the rapper and a violinist. The rapper, full of bravado announces he's just a heartbreaker and she just has to accept that, and the violinist plays back her response, which is basically "hell no".
After the opening statements the piece develops as a battle - the rapper raps 4 bars, then violinist plays back 4 bars, trading back and forth, each trying to outdo the other. The argument becomes increasingly chaotic, until it self destructs, and out of the dust comes a love song.
The love song lyrics are from a 14th century Italian love sonnet and are sung by a tenor, representing the rappers innermost thoughts. The lyrics tell how one Sunday morning he went to church and saw the most beautiful girl and fell truly, deeply, in love. The love song turns into a tango, which becomes more and more assertive, until it transforms into the opening argument theme. The lyrics have been switched up for their reconciliation, except he can't help throwing in that he's still a heartbreaker, and of course she doesn't take it, which looks like it’s going to lead to another argument, and probably another love songs and another reconciliation, but that's another song.
Ultimately, Heartbreaker is a piece about fighting with a person you love. It’s about the contradictions and emotions that happen in such a fight. And it’s about the power of music to communicate, sometime even more powerfully than words.
Full cast and crew:
Violin Shannon Reilly, Rap Glory
Concertino: Violin Holly Workman, Viola Josh Lohner, Cello Lars Kirvan, Bass Eric Polenik, Tenor Pablo Bustos, Dance Travis Widrick, Dance Melissa Parkhust
Ripieno: Violin Liana Koteva Kirvan, Violin Aika Ito Violin, Ellen Sonnenberg, Violin Julie Gray, Viola Neil Miller, Cello Andy Barnhart, Bass Drew Bunson, Harpsichord Marc Webster
Additional video by Dan Finklestein, Makeup and additional artistic direction for Shannon/Glory by Diana Elena Alvarez
Stay in School (student strings) (2019)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Glory, Mark 2
Strings for Success at School #19
fivebyfive quintet
Little Red Dance Studio
Audio and video recording Marc Webste
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Glory, Mark 2
Strings for Success at School #19
fivebyfive quintet
Little Red Dance Studio
Audio and video recording Marc Webste
"Amazing people do amazing things. If you watch just one video today watch this one. Our community has such a treasure in these people" - John Bernunzio, of Bernunzio's Uptown Music Store
|
This video was the culmination of a several months of collaboration with the fivebyfive quintet and the violin students in Strings for Success, a program of The Center for Youth in partnership with Dr. Charles T. Lunsford school 19 in the Rochester City School District.
This video include the #StayInSchoolChallenge to music teachers and students to make their own video of Stay in School. Sheet music and mp3 are available at StayInSchoolChallenge.
Full cast and crew:
Rap: Glory, Mark 2
Violins: Strings for Success at School #19, Program Director Patty Yarmel, Music Director Gretchen Judge
fivebyfive: Flute Laura Lentz, Clarinet Marcy Bacon, Electric Guitar Sungmin Shin, Piano Haeyeun Jeun, Bass Eric Polenik.
Dancers: Little Red Dance Studio, Dance Director Lisa Allaine, Choreographers Sarah Albano, Sarah Rothrock-Rickel
Additional artistic direction Diana Elena Alvarez
Performace Resources
This video include the #StayInSchoolChallenge to music teachers and students to make their own video of Stay in School. Sheet music and mp3 are available at StayInSchoolChallenge.
Full cast and crew:
Rap: Glory, Mark 2
Violins: Strings for Success at School #19, Program Director Patty Yarmel, Music Director Gretchen Judge
fivebyfive: Flute Laura Lentz, Clarinet Marcy Bacon, Electric Guitar Sungmin Shin, Piano Haeyeun Jeun, Bass Eric Polenik.
Dancers: Little Red Dance Studio, Dance Director Lisa Allaine, Choreographers Sarah Albano, Sarah Rothrock-Rickel
Additional artistic direction Diana Elena Alvarez
Performace Resources
Echoplex (Quintet) (2018)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Flute Caroline Sonnet
Clarinet Hattie Bestul
Bass Eric Polenik
Piano Marc Webster
Electric Guitar Sunming Shin
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This is another arrangement of Echoplex, this version for for flute, clarinet, guitar, piano, and bass.
Performance Resources
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Flute Caroline Sonnet
Clarinet Hattie Bestul
Bass Eric Polenik
Piano Marc Webster
Electric Guitar Sunming Shin
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This is another arrangement of Echoplex, this version for for flute, clarinet, guitar, piano, and bass.
Performance Resources
Hacky Sack (2018)
For flute, clarinet, electric guitar, double bass, and piano, performed by the five by five chamber ensemble.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
fivebyfive: Flute Laura Lentz, Clarinet Marcy Bacon, Electric Guitar Sungmin Shin, Piano Haeyeun Jeun, Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
Hacky sack is a game where players stand in a circle and toss a small bag among themselves using only their feet, with the goal of keeping the bag from touching the ground. This piece features a section which is essentially a game of hacky sack played in music.
In the Hacky Sack section (starting at 1:39), the flutist starts with the "hacky sack", plays a 4 bar solo, then tosses it to the next player, who plays a 4 bar solo, then tosses it to the next player. Just like the game of hacky sack, the order of the players is improvised, but follows the traditional rules of "don't hog the hacky sack, make sure to pass to players who have not gotten it recently, etc".
The score provides a technique of practicing improvisation within the 4 bar phrases as well. The score provides each player with several 4 bar lines written such that any player can play any line, or even switch mid-line at any time, and the ensemble will work. If the ensemble becomes comfortable with that level of improvisation, the score also provides the rules so that player can also write or improvise they own lines as well. The point is to pick a level that is fun for the players and fun for the audience, and challenging enough that the ensemble grows in it’s ability to improvise.
Performance Resources
For flute, clarinet, electric guitar, double bass, and piano, performed by the five by five chamber ensemble.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
fivebyfive: Flute Laura Lentz, Clarinet Marcy Bacon, Electric Guitar Sungmin Shin, Piano Haeyeun Jeun, Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
Hacky sack is a game where players stand in a circle and toss a small bag among themselves using only their feet, with the goal of keeping the bag from touching the ground. This piece features a section which is essentially a game of hacky sack played in music.
In the Hacky Sack section (starting at 1:39), the flutist starts with the "hacky sack", plays a 4 bar solo, then tosses it to the next player, who plays a 4 bar solo, then tosses it to the next player. Just like the game of hacky sack, the order of the players is improvised, but follows the traditional rules of "don't hog the hacky sack, make sure to pass to players who have not gotten it recently, etc".
The score provides a technique of practicing improvisation within the 4 bar phrases as well. The score provides each player with several 4 bar lines written such that any player can play any line, or even switch mid-line at any time, and the ensemble will work. If the ensemble becomes comfortable with that level of improvisation, the score also provides the rules so that player can also write or improvise they own lines as well. The point is to pick a level that is fun for the players and fun for the audience, and challenging enough that the ensemble grows in it’s ability to improvise.
Performance Resources
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (2018)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Rap Glory
Violins Shannon Reilly Steigerwald, Holly Workman,
Viola Samantha Rodriguez
Cello Lars Kirvan
Acoustic Bass Eric Polenik
Percussion Michael Van Munster.
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This piece mixes a flamenco-based song, performed by a string quartet plus bass, with a rapper.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Rap Glory
Violins Shannon Reilly Steigerwald, Holly Workman,
Viola Samantha Rodriguez
Cello Lars Kirvan
Acoustic Bass Eric Polenik
Percussion Michael Van Munster.
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This piece mixes a flamenco-based song, performed by a string quartet plus bass, with a rapper.
Carlos 1 (2018)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Trumpet Dave Chisholm
Bass Danny Ziemann
Drums Chase Ellison
Violin Shannon Steigerwald, Holly Workman,
Viola Josh Wareham,
Cello Ben Baker
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This piece explores having the string quartet fulfill the role a pianist would typically provide. After the head, at 2:35, the trumpet takes a solo and the string quartet "comps" similar to how a pianist might backup the trumpet solo. Following the trumpet solo, at 4:35, the string quartet "takes a solo" similar to how a pianist might take the second solo. The name Carlos 1 refers to a jazz club in New York City.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Trumpet Dave Chisholm
Bass Danny Ziemann
Drums Chase Ellison
Violin Shannon Steigerwald, Holly Workman,
Viola Josh Wareham,
Cello Ben Baker
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This piece explores having the string quartet fulfill the role a pianist would typically provide. After the head, at 2:35, the trumpet takes a solo and the string quartet "comps" similar to how a pianist might backup the trumpet solo. Following the trumpet solo, at 4:35, the string quartet "takes a solo" similar to how a pianist might take the second solo. The name Carlos 1 refers to a jazz club in New York City.
Echoplex (Violin) (2016)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Violin Shannon Reilly
Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
The Echoplex was a tape delay effect first made in 1959. The Echoplex was hugely influential in 60’s and 70’s rock music and can be heard on countless records, including those by Led Zeppelin, Joe Walsh, Queen, and Van Halen. The Echoplex recorded sound on a magnetic tape loop which was then played back. The tape speed and distance between heads determined the delay and a feedback variable allowed for a repetitive effect.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Violin Shannon Reilly
Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
The Echoplex was a tape delay effect first made in 1959. The Echoplex was hugely influential in 60’s and 70’s rock music and can be heard on countless records, including those by Led Zeppelin, Joe Walsh, Queen, and Van Halen. The Echoplex recorded sound on a magnetic tape loop which was then played back. The tape speed and distance between heads determined the delay and a feedback variable allowed for a repetitive effect.
Bessie and Bartok (2016)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Trumpet Oliver Haynes
Bass Danny Ziemann
Drums Tony Hiler
Violin Bob Pyciior, Tahlia Cott
Viola Bridget Kinnear, Cello Any Barnhart
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
The name refers to Bessie Smith the blues singer and Bela Bartok the classical composer. The form is similar to a 12 bar blues, and contains a reference to Lost Your Head Blues by Bessie Smith. But rather than the blues scale, the piece is based on the Hungarian minor scale, a scale often associated with Bartok and sometimes called the Bartok scale.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Trumpet Oliver Haynes
Bass Danny Ziemann
Drums Tony Hiler
Violin Bob Pyciior, Tahlia Cott
Viola Bridget Kinnear, Cello Any Barnhart
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
The name refers to Bessie Smith the blues singer and Bela Bartok the classical composer. The form is similar to a 12 bar blues, and contains a reference to Lost Your Head Blues by Bessie Smith. But rather than the blues scale, the piece is based on the Hungarian minor scale, a scale often associated with Bartok and sometimes called the Bartok scale.
Stay in School (string quintet) (2015)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Rap Glory,
Violin Karine Stone, Lauren Cauley Kalal
Viola Jenny Välitalo
Cello Andy Barnhart
Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This is another version of Stay in School for string quintet.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Rap Glory,
Violin Karine Stone, Lauren Cauley Kalal
Viola Jenny Välitalo
Cello Andy Barnhart
Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
This is another version of Stay in School for string quintet.
Up Outta Here (2013)
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Rap Glory
Violin Karine Stone, Lauren Cauley Kalal
Viola Jenny Välitalo
Cello Andy Barnhart
Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
The piece was originally written for a children's concert and is about playground bullying. It was as early experiments to see if I translate typical hip hop audio production and mixing techniques to a string quintet.
Composed/Produced by Marc Webster
Rap Glory
Violin Karine Stone, Lauren Cauley Kalal
Viola Jenny Välitalo
Cello Andy Barnhart
Bass Eric Polenik
Audio and video by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording Studio
The piece was originally written for a children's concert and is about playground bullying. It was as early experiments to see if I translate typical hip hop audio production and mixing techniques to a string quintet.