Presented at
Notacon 2 (2005),
April 8, 2005, 8 p.m.
(60 minutes)
Introduction: This is a musical performance and demonstration which will consist of me playing electric guitar and acoustic and electric dulcimer over backing rhythm tracks (on CD) recorded at my home studio. My purpose is to give some deep insights into my creative process, and how a tune can evolve and morph into a multi-genre adventure that takes the listener on a journey, and actually tells a story.
The Tunes: I will use two tunes for the demo: Skip Variations and a medley of Cold Rain & Snow/Little Maggie.
The Evolution: The fundamental idea behind the development of each tune is the TELLING OF A STORY: each tune will gradually evolve from a literal statement of the melody - to a decorated and syncopated "playful" version of the melody - to some more abstract improvisations around the underlying chord progression. The harmony will be embellished as the tunes progress as well.
Presenters:
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Jerry C. Rockwell
- jcrmusic.com
Jerry C. Rockwell is a fulltime musician/hand builder of acoustic and electric mountain dulcimers based in Guysville, Athens County, Ohio. He has been working with MIDI and electronic music tools since the advent of the Mac and FM synthesis; composing, recording, and publishing music with a range of influences from jazz/blues/traditional roots to microtonal. He writes an email newsletter devoted to music theory and improvisation for mountain dulcimer players and folk musicians and maintains a website at www.jcrmusic.com that covers his continuing musical enquiries (grooves, polyrhythms, improvising, and alternate tunings and temperaments) as well as showcasing his mountain dulcimers. Jerry graduated from the School of Music at The Ohio State University cum laude in 1989, where his principal instrument was jazz guitar.
Links: