Re: [microsound] [OT] Philip Glass

[Richard Zvonar <zvonar@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 2:47 PM -0800 2/12/03, Glenn Bach wrote:

>Mr. Glass certainly doesn't need anyone to defend him

For your amusement, a little Phil Glass anecdote:

A few years ago I was in Santa Cruz for the Cabrillo Music Festival, 
my partner being principal violist in the festival orchestra. Philip 
Glass was composer-in-residence that year, and a wide assortment of 
his works were being played. One concert of chamber music took place 
in a multi-purpose room at a local temple, and it featured a duet for 
amplified double bass and timpani. During the preconcert rehearsal 
and sound check I received a frantic call from the stage manager, 
asking my help in getting rid of some pesky feedback on the bass.

When I arrived the source of the problem was obvious: The instruments 
were set up in a small alcove the shape of a shoe box, with parallel 
walls, ceiling, and floor that resonated the bass frequencies with 
alacrity. Amplification was courtesy of a microphone and a Peavey 
guitar amp. I did what I could to reduce the feedback by moving the 
amp so that it was no longer aimed at the bass microphone, but the 
problem persisted. I then fiddled with the rudimentary tone controls 
on the amp and finally got the feedback to stop, rather to the 
detriment of the bass tone.

I sat next to Phil as the concert went on and the piece was played 
without feedback. Afterwards he turned to me and said, "That's the 
first time I've heard a double bass sound like a Farfisa organ."
-- 

______________________________________________________________
Richard Zvonar, PhD
(818) 788-2202
http://www.zvonar.com
http://RZCybernetics.com

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