Cypher Variations for orchestra written for Wikipedia Art remixed

Cypher Variations for chamber orchestra (111Asx1/2100/tymp/hp/cel/strings)is a short two-minute conceptual work created for Scott Kildall and Nathaniel Stern's Wikipedia Art remixed project which is part of the Padiglione Internet (the Internet Pavilion) for the 2009 Venice Biennale.

The piece is based around two cells, one of which spells "Wikipedia", presented in the winds/brass/harp/celesta/percussion which has a block-like, rather mandarin quality. The other cell spells out "Art" in the strings, and has a more active character. The two motives almost fit together, but the juxtaposition of B natural/B flat creates an inherent tension which causes them to repel, in the same way that Wikipedia Art was repelled from Wikipedia. The tympani part beginning around 1:00 is the musical illustration of a prominent Wikipedia editor who stated that he danced on the skulls of his opponents.

The work may be heard here.

This orchestral prelude was then used by Gregory Kohs (with whom I produce the Akahele blog) as the basis of his "Wikipedia Art : a Musical Manifesto".



I encourage other artists to participate in this initiative by creating their own Wikipedia Art remixes, uploading the remixed Wikipedia Art work somewhere on the Internet (YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Facebook, your own site), and then sending a link to: remix [at] wikipediaart [dot] org.

A new song cycle on poetry by Emily Dickinson

My new song cycle "Ten Dickinson Songs" for high voice and piano is available from Musik Fabrik. You can read more about it by clicking on the link above.

Akahele.org is launched

Akahele.org has been launched. "Akahele" is a Hawaiian word which means "to take care", "to be cautious". It is the opposite of "wiki".

What if there were a place on the Internet where the Internet itself could be carefully and cautiously reviewed and critiqued? What if the voices you heard came from real, identifiable people who backed their musings and words with their real-life credentials and experiences? What if facts trumped speculation? Imagine a calm, rational place on the Web where complex Internet issues detrimentally impacting our society are presented for examination — without unnecessary jargon, without "insider" metaphors, without confusing (or boring!) the average citizen who doesn’t know the meaning of an "open proxy" or a "DoS attack".

The Akahele blog will strive to be that place.