Wed Mar 09, 2005
Six Peaces (2003) - words and music
My early oud work is documented on the album Six Peaces, a meditative work with both oud and flamenco guitar. Its the last time I did any solo work with the flamenco, and so it documents the transition of my focus from one instrument to the other. However in recording this album I discovered these two instruments have a particular affinity for each other, and so I could not ignore the guitar completely.
It was recorded at a time of a great first love for the oud, of a passionate initial immersion into the Islamic Sufi tradition, and of great sorrow at a particularly turbulent time in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Performing and preparing these pieces for the recording therefore brought on a certain meditation - on themes of love, understanding, healing, responsibility, peace in both the internal and global domains, and above all, love of God. These meditations in turn generated the six corresponding poems for each of the tracks; may the words and music find its way to you as well.
(N.B. there are some liberties with the approach used here in what would normally be considered maqams: most of the pieces use specific maqam- based scalar constructs, but may be developed differently than standard maqam usage; it's not quite proper, therefore, to identify their use here as traditional maqams. I ve chosen to define the usage accordingly).
This CD is available at CD Baby.
1 FIRST HOME
First Home,
benificent Source,
smiling Sky and beaming Earth,
Joy.
The God-Ocean
of
Love
unfolds the sun:
the Divine shines
down in us.
breathe in that Light,
swim,
bow into that grace, and be happy in it.
FIRST HOME utilizes both the oud and the guitar in a series of exchanged passages and is based on the Arabo-Andalusian zrga mode/maqam, which is not as well known as other maqams but is common in Algeria, Morocco, and other Maghreb countries. It is also common in the music of certain Sufi brotherhoods of that region. This piece particularly was inspired by a muwwal (an improvised form of solo chant with instrumental responses) in this mode from a recording by the Al-Shushtari Brotherhood.
Special thanks to Omar Metioui, musical director of the Al-Shushtari Brotherhood, for the initial inspiration and encouragement to record this mode, and his clarification on its accepted use.
2. DARK DIAMOND
a desolate cry
echoes
cracked and ancient
from this dark diamond,
each surface
etched
with guilt.
polish
this
sad jewel
with cloths of Light:
restoring to mirrors
from Love,
reflecting forgiveness
from each facet.
DARK DIAMOND begins the series of solo oud pieces, and uses the nawa'athar scalar construct in a slow meditation.
3. DANCE ACROSS THE DIVIDE
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divisions only in this realm, not the real one.
becoming an ocean, beginning to understand.
shine out of ourselves,
shine across the divide
reaching
raise out
dance across the divide
dance for your brother
dance for his sister
rejoice in the knowledge,
rest in the rewards
compassion brings.
DANCE ACROSS THE DIVIDE is a more active rhythmic piece using a free mix of bayyati/husseini scalar constructs.
4. REMEMBER LOVE
Love abandoned across battlefields of stubborness
if we abandon Love we abandon the Divine
radiant distortions
strive to reclaim
the dance that bonds us comes from far ago and long away
remember it,
remembering inward:
One and Eternal,
Unfolding Ocean of
Love's Source,
First Energy,
restoring to cell,
to reclaim.
remembering that,
we can forget all else.
REMEMBER LOVE starts with some abstract textures then explores the kurd scale tones against a C pedal for a minor-key feel, before developing some rhythmic explorations in the same mode with the more common D pedal.
5. LOST CREEK, FORGOTTEN VALLEY
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hope weeps
small and silent
like the lost creek in the valley
that no one tends
the olives , parched
the grapes, withered
we suck the wine from life in self-obsession
dry legacy
before time shuts to dust:
let your tears raise the creek to overflow,
kiss one olive to ripeness,
caress one grape to wine.
LOST CREEK, FORGOTTEN VALLEY uses the less common lami mode as its scalar base, which can best be described in this transposition as the Western locrian mode built on C but developed using both C and F pedals.
6. LAST HOME
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those gone, those sacrificed, those we miss,
they are in a place of knowing.
they understand this folly.
in the Last Home all is clear.
we grieve for our loss
they grieve for our stifled humanity
may they forgive us for what we continue to do in their memory.
is it only after death
do we learn
love's lesson?
in this realm, no one left to learn.
open and learn now:
let a tiny corner, a brick, a stone, a speck of dust
from the Last Home
bring radiance and hope to this one.
One and Eternal,
Unfolding Ocean of
Love's Source,
First Energy
is not only for the dead who reach it:
it is for us here, that we may try and breathe it...just a little
(remembering inward).
remember where they are
reflect on what they know
and bring it here-
breathe in that Light,
bow into that grace, and understand the Love in it.
Love
unfolds:
the Divine shines
down in us.
LAST HOME closes the disc with a piece again exchanging guitar and oud. The only piece on the album not derived from maqams, it is instead based on the flamenco alegrias form in its minor key version, with some additional incorporated tones ( both natural and flatted sevenths and sixths).
TECH STUFF:
all text and music c p 2002 M.S. Dill all rights reserved
recorded march 2002 Norumba Studios, Clayton, NM
flamenco guitar by Juan Alvarez , Spain (1962)
Bashir oud by Yaroub Mohammed Fadel , Tunisia (2000)
session/edit/mix/tweak/polish: Stefan Dill
Final digital sanctification (mastering): Quincy at Q labs, Albuquerque, NM
All selections c p 2002 S.Dill All selections BMI
a big thanks to: Mark Bennett; Dino; Richard Hankey; Mike Malek; Q; Mark Weber; and friends and supporters in Berlin, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Clayton, and elsewhere....
Special thanks and gratitude to: Rahim AlHaj, a true master, for his knowledge, spirit, great music and encouragement; Omar Metioui also, again for his wisdom, great music, support and encouragement across the miles; Rudy Carrera,of Falcata-Galia, for his kind permission; Steve and Aba, for love, enthusiasm, and a very timely support; Micci, Kiko, Sofi, for the everyday joys, patience and endurance; and to Yaroub Mohammed Fadel for such an extraordinary instrument and Ronny Andersson, for his enthusiasm and logistical support in procuring it.
above all, thanks/praise be to Allah (SWT), Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim - al-Hamdulillah!
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Mon Mar 07, 2005
Flower And Song (2000)
In December 2000, my good friend Mark Weber released Flower And Song (Zerx 029), a collection of various duos, all fully improvised.
One of the prinicipal attractions for me in performing improvised music is the telepathy, the connectivity that can occur between accomplished improvisors: the immediate call and response, the ability to find each others pitches, the simultanaeity of rhythmic gestures and phrases - all while hopefully making some compelling music - is what makes improvisation work or not. In short,"chemistry". The potential to reach that chemistry, that magic which makes all music "happen", is for me at its greatest in improvised music, because without standard song form, everything rests on the interplay. It is music at its most naked, stripped to essentials - it either happens or it doesnt. Whether it does here or not is for the listener to decide and enjoy and perplex over.
1.AK'ABIL (EARLY DAWN)
A brief unfolding with Jack...
2. CIRCLE OF SKIES
Jack Wright is a veteran master improvisor, and I hadnt seen him in years. He came to a solo concert I did in Denver in June, and we went to his house afterwards and did some brief playing. Inspired by the initial results, we arranged for him to come down here for an afternoon, where we laid down everything here (and then some...)
3. THE SERPENT MAT
4. ANOTHER QUICK ONE
The last two of a three - piece short set that John Jasnoch and I did at The Grapes in Sheffield, England while I was on a UK tour in 97. John is a well known improvisor in the UK, Holland, and Germany. He graciously arranged this stop for me, and it was a splendid night. Fortunately someone recorded this on cassette, but the powerful and constant omnipresence of Yorkshire Electricity Company proved to be quite a challenge. 6000 miles distance and an arsenal of audio tools between Q and myself lessens their impact considerably but not completely.
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5.ZAKIL AMAK'EL (LIGHT THAT LASTS)
John Dikeman is an amazing talent. I met him while teaching at the ill-fated Young Musicians summer music camp in Wyoming in 1999 and was blown away. At 17, he has a tone, energy, and melodicism that is rare regardless of age. This year, he came for a visit and we set up in my father -in - laws cavernous empty downtown building for three nights straight. By the third night, it was going...
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6.DANCE, O PRECIOUS JADE, O PRECIOUS TURQUOISE
Dave Wayne is the drummer for the new Trio, and in the trio sessions we did some duo moments. My 2 year old daughter Sofia dances to everything, from Brotzmann to bulerias, and she loved this one. Using the Nahuatl metaphor for daughter, this is for her...
7. SONG FOR TWO SOFIS
A more introspective piece with Dave Wayne, whose daughter is also similarly named.
8. RAZOR HOUSE
DW and I plug in and go...
9. REMEMBRANCE
Trio bassist Dave Nielsen and I put this brief quiet piece down one night at rehearsal.
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10. SLEEPING IN FIRE
I convinced Jack to do one piece with me on electric, and I'm rather glad he agreed.
11. IN XOCHITL, IN CUICATL (FLOWER AND SONG)
The "title cut", so to speak... a varied and intriguing piece with Jack.
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12. SING, HEART OF JOY
From John's visit came this joyous bit of frenzy (and the only possible way to conclude the album).
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Click on the 'more' link for who's who, and the background story of how the project came about:
More...
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Sangre Del Rio (1997)
In 1997 the second solo CD "Sangre Del Rio" was released on its own Norumba Records label (so - named as the label's artistic concept for releases is diametrically opposed to the Diet-flamenco-lite pop/rumba material out there).
The title cut (por siguiriyas) and a very sentimental, simple piece dedicated to my son that closes the album ("Hijo")are now available as RealAudio samples at Guitar Nine Records, where you can also buy the CD via credit card (and all kinds of interesting guitar music as well).
ANGELS (w/Courtney Smith, harp)
an improvised duo with the stunning improvising harpist Courtney Smith, recorded in an idle moment while waiting for violist Alicia Ultan to arrive for asession. the three of us collectivey had a short-lived improvising chamber trio called Trio Palladium.
RIO DE ESPIRITU
One of the more loosely structured pieces, this spacious, contemplative piece centers around the tonal center por granainas.
VIENTO ROJO
This modern-voiced soleá is framed by opening and closing free improvisations.
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HOMENAJE A JOE MANERI a brief completely free improvisation, dedicated to my brilliant teacher back in Boston.
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SANDS, MOUNTAINS EMBRACED, BREATHING RIVERS FOLDED LIGHT
A large scale piece, originally written and premiered for my performance in 1994 at Berlin's Total Music Meeting. In the tarantas key.
CAJULEU
A bulerias, with dark edges.
SANGRE DEL RIO
Another large piece, based on seguiriyas.
HIJO
A gentle melody, for sons and fathers everywhere, and the love, lessons, and inspirations they give each other. Por mineras.
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Credit card purchases may be handled via Guitar Nine Records.
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Warning Clothed in bright Robes of Dawn (1994)
This is the CD that started it, so to speak, and since I've had the site up I often get inquiries about it. I don't stock copies of it here, but it can be ordered direct from Centaur (follow this link). Catalog number is CRC2222.
This is a live solo concert from 15 May 1993, and was released in 1994. Except for one glaring bit of weirdness and audience applause, there are no other edits on the album - all is as it went down. The samples here as well are contiguous excerpts. Interestingly, there are only three cuts on this 73 minute CD, at 19, 16, and 37(!) minutes, respectively.
Audio samples will be coming soon.
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