Libsyn Directory

071 - Denny Genovese

Release Date: 06/28/2023

Now and Xen

Xenharmonic black metal project Melopœia consists of Brian Leong, Jon Lervold, and Dave Tremblay. Their albums are inspired by J.R.R. Tolkein, and features his direct text both sung, and by mapping the letters of the text to different notes of 26-tone equal temperament. Their latest album utilizing this is “Valaquenta,” be sure to catch the latest track “Varda” which we discuss and play in the episode! Their earlier album, “Ainulindalë,” used the same method of starting the album and then uploading tracks one at a time as completed. Intro: Melopœia - Varda...

078 - Christopher Otto (JACK quartet)

Now and Xen

Chat about contemporary music, composition, and just intonation with us in this theoretically adventurous and wide ranging episode. Christopher Otto, composer and violinist, works with the JACK quartet, a group that has played the music of such individuals as John Zorn, Tristan Perich, Cenk Ergün, Tyshawn Sorey, Catherine Lamb, Georg Frederich Haas, Dan Trueman, and many, many, more. Intro: Christopher Otto (jack quartet) rag’sma Catherine Lamb - divisio spiralis (mvt. II) Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 (storm section low notes) Vicente Atria - Seasons Will Pass You By Christopher Otto...

077 - Noah Jordan

Now and Xen

Take a magical tour with us through some of Noah Dean Jordan’s microtonal instruments (including the requinto), including improvised performances! Be sure to check out the “Noah Dean Jordan” account on Bandcamp as well as the “Nueva Armonica” account! Intro: I Was Once a River (Rock Creek II) Outro: I Was Once a River (Te Quiero Verde) Check out Noah’s work on the requinto: Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically) Follow Subscribe RSS: iTunes: … Spotify: … Stitcher: Twitter: ...

076 - Matthew Sheeran

Now and Xen

Today’s episode celebrates the culmination of a years-long project with Matthew Sheeran, widely celebrated composer, orchestrator, and arranger. The album we’ve been working on is called “Acoustic Microtonal,” and it is a recording of Easley Blackwood’s Twelve Microtonal Etudes using acoustic instruments, playing monophonic lines in isolation and then being re-tuned using Melodyne. Matthew commissioned the Budapest Scoring Orchestra to achieve this huge compositional feat. Check out our episode here for the largest dive into the notes and chords behind the music, and be sure to check...

075 - Saad Haddad

Now and Xen

In this episode, we discuss composition and performance with composer Saad Haddad. One prominent topic - the challenges involved working with orchestras and large ensembles playing microtonal music, and logistics of the industry. We also discuss ideas of east vs. west, style infiltration, using minimal sets of pitches, and maqam. Music: Vortex Temporum - Gérard Grisey Vignettes - Saad Haddad Aysheen (demo) - Saad Haddad Outro: Aysheen (demo) - Saad Haddad Saad has his own podcast! (check it out): Other links: Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons,...

074 - Sevish and benyamind (Big Sway)

Now and Xen

After this episode, be sure to check out the new Sevish album, “Big Sway!” Myself, Sevish, and benyamind have a classic microtonal chat about all things fun and intervallic, covering topics such as intuitive tunings, voice manipulation (vocoding, autotuning, etc.), perfectionism, going gridless, expectations, and communication and accessibility within the microtonal community. Several instruments get the spotlight, such as Sevish’s new microtonal keyboards, the Lumatone, melodica, and saxophone! We also stretch some tunings out for 22-edo Lambda, and frolic about in JI with harmonic...

073 - Brock Benzel

Now and Xen

In this brief but informative chat with Brock Benzel, we explore uncharted territory, with a firm commitment to being true to the self, taking on challenges, putting the music first, and breaking rules just the right way. Enjoy the comfort of alien intervals that Brock brings using the Lumatone keyboard instrument (our big topic). Music [Intro] Paranola (31-TET) - performed by Brock Benzel Something found (31-TET) - facebook excerpt (Brock Benzel) stay hydrated (53-TET) - facebook excerpt (Brock Benzel) [Outro] happy pride from me n my pride keyboard to u (31-TET) - facebook excerpt...

072 - Steve Mueske

Now and Xen

An episode about synth and drums among other tidbits. Topics include names, aliases, Sevish himself, reverberance, randomness, evil, disguising tuning, non-octave tuning, flaws, beauty, the joy of doing creative work yourself, AI, picking your genres, the microtonal community, and art. Be sure to check out Steve’s work as “Pentachrist” on Bandcamp, releasing new music periodically! Music The Road After [Four] - Pentachrist (15-TET) Machine Love [Look - A Living Retrospective] - müesk (9-TET) Emancipate Pitch! - Stephen Weigel (22-TET) I’ve Been Thinking [Look - A Living...

071 - Denny Genovese

Now and Xen

In this episode, Denny Genovese recalls his history of creating and studying microtonal music, and his experience creating and performing in the impressive Exotic Music Ensemble. Join us as we become inspired through the brown note, Ivor Darreg’s secret math codes, the origins of Fractal Tune Smithy, the Moody Blues, FM synthesis, JI scales, and numerous other topics. Denny also explains his discography, and each individual instrument of the ensemble. Music [Intro] Five in Five [JI] - Denny Genovese [Outro] Reggae [JI] - Denny Genovese Some resources: Support us on...

070 - Danny Playamaqui

Now and Xen

Check out Danny Playamaqui’s electronic music, a hugely expansive discography using a staggering variety of techniques. Danny conducts by-ear-tuning editing, strategic de-tuning, varispeed tricks, and poly-systemic techniques in addition to starting out with xenharmonic tunings as templates. Luckily, 4 bars a day keeps the doctor away (or is it an apple? Perhaps a lemon, or some paprika). We take inspiration and feedback from what is around us, trying to counterbalance that with boredom, motives, gimmicks, and alter egos. Animals and food, the ultimate kid-friendly songwriting subjects, here...

More Episodes

Music

[Intro] Five in Five [JI] - Denny Genovese
[Outro] Reggae [JI] - Denny Genovese

Some resources:

http://www.afn.org/~sejic/denny.htm

https://archive.org/stream/emi_archive/EMI_11_3_March1996_djvu.txt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEpT_yWIsl8&t=1894s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_3h51nWQ5M&t=420s

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https://www.patreon.com/nowandxen

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