165: How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life.

A field recording of Lake Michigan, interweaving chromatic scales, and arpeggios, episode 165 of the podcast features a new composition for a small ensemble (or rather a computer pretending to be a small ensemble).

The piece was partly inspired by several bike rides I took this weekend, from Evanston to a nature preserve near South Shore Cultural Center(Chicago). The weather was near perfect for bike riding, 70 degrees, with a slight wind. But the waves were rough, tossing and turning from every direction.

The piece takes its first note, middle C, from the book I finished this weekend, Orfeo, by Richard Powers. The title also appears in the novel, as the lyrics for an experimental piece Peter Els, the composer/DIY microbiologist in the novel, sees at a coffee house. He identifies it as Reich. Wittgenstein. Proverb. To paraphrase Els from later in the novel, I will never have anything to break; everything is already broken and glued back together in a mosaic of pretty bits…

164: Thunderstruck, or how I stopped listening and learned to love the end of the world

stopGOstop and Idaho Street Workshop are proud to present: Thunderstruck, or how I stopped listening and learned to love the end of the world. Featuring field recordings as well as reflections about the weather, high fidelity recordings, war, and much much more.

161: Evanston or the slowly melting snow or Milton Feldman was an immense, verbose man

A new composition for watching the snow melt, or watching the ice float on the Lake, or to calm the mind as it awaits the future. Always remember, composer Milton Feldman worked at his family’s business (manufacturing children’s coats) until he was forty-four, so work tomorrow isn’t going to be that bad. This piece is the second in a series of works inspired by walking/biking around Evanston, IL; featuring computerized Tuba, Contrabass, Timpani, and a number of other semi-symphonic and sinewave instruments.

159: Evanston or Midwest in Midwinter or I don’t understand Mark Rothko

After an unintended 5 month hiatus, the stopGOstop podcast is back with episode 159. Evanston or Midwest in Midwinter or I don’t understand Mark Rothko is a 14-minute composition featuring field recordings of walking in the snow, a brass quintet, sine waves, and a positive attitude.