王曉嵐 Hsiao-Lan Wang
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Electric Monster Concert at D-22, Beijing
The first performance of Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble in Beijing took place on 5/18 (9-11 PM) at D-22, home of China’s underground. What a fun experience!
Electric Monster's performance at D-22 in Beijing, May 2010. photo by Benoit Granier
Program:
SoundCloud (2010) Hsiao-Lan Wang
OM (2009) Kyong Mee Choi
Awake (2010) Daniel Zajicek
Baffin Bay (2008) Adam Scott Neal
I Will Play the Swan and Die in Music (2010) Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner
Will Hartley on trombone
RadioGamelan (2010) Greg Surges
Wind Farm (2009) John Gibson
WaveDrag (2010) by the Electric Monster based on Jeff Morris’ Max patch
Kent Johnson on guitar
Total improv jam session with special guest performer Bruce Gremo on Cilia, the flute controller, and Max.
Electric Monster Pre China Tour Concert
Posted by hlwang in conducting, events, teaching on 04/23/2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Reynolds Recital Hall. Montana State University
Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble is going to China!
This concert precedes our tour of Beijing, China, which will be from May 14-26, 2010. Electric Monster will be the first laptop ensemble to visit Beijing, where we will interact with professional Chinese musicians with joint performances and presentation.
Several talented instrumentalists performed with us to present a program that embraces music of today.
Program:
“SoundCloud” by Hsiao-Lan Wang
“RadioGamelan” by Greg Surges
“I will Play the Swan and Die in Music” by Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner
Will Hartley, trombone
“Awake” by Daniel Zajicek
“Static Forests” by Chapman Welch
Kelley Barnett, flute; Trevor Ostenson, violin; Stephan Gueguen, marimba
“WaveDrag” by the Electric Monster based on Jeff Morris’ Max patch
Kent Johnson, guitar
Interview at Radio Station KTRU Houston
Hsiao-Lan and Scordatura radio host Hsin-Jung in the studio of KTRU on the Rice University campus
Over the winter break, I was invited for an hour-long interview with Scordatura radio show host Hsin-Jung Tsai at 91.7 FM KTRU, Houston. I talked about my musical works, working with performers, women in music issues, the Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble, my country Taiwan, and my collaboration with visual artists and filmmakers. It was a tour de force interview that touched on many of the things that I have been putting a lot of effort into. It was also a wonderful opportunity for me to reunite with my dear friend Hsin-Jung, who is also a composer and performer.
SCORDATURA is the Houston area’s source for new directions in contemporary classical music and sound. Broadcasted on 91.7/91.5 FM KTRU, this program offers a wide variety of genres from the concert music of the early 20th century to the current trends in sound ecology. Here is KTRU’s website.
Segment 1: talking about chamber work Tale of an Unborn Child:
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Segment 2: talking about Refrain for yangchin (Chinese dulcimer) and tape:
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Segment 3: talking about women in music issues and IAWM:
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Segment 4: talking about tape piece Green Potato II and Taiwan:
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Segment 5: talking about the Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble:
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Segment 6: talking about collaboration with artists and advice for young composers:
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Debut Concert, Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble
Time: Friday 12/04/2009, 7:30 PM
Location: Reynolds Recital Hall, Montana State University
Free admission
What exactly does a laptop ensemble sound like? How can people get together to make music on their laptops? The answer is: it can be pretty much anything you want it to be. Come experience the latest sensation in music technology with the Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble. In our premiere performance, Electric Monster will be joined by talented musicians from the Montana State University, Department of Music.
Coming of age at the turn of the 21st century, laptops, with their ease in mobility and connectivity, have revolutionized the way music is made. Taking full advantage of the laptop’s plasticity, the Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble is currently playing pieces written in the programming languages Max/MSP, PureData, Java, Flash, and PowerPoint (you heard that right!). Unlike compositions written for more traditional instruments, the members of the ensemble contribute musical ideas to each composition. In addition, the synchronization of each laptop sometimes relies on a wireless network, while other times it relies on old-fashioned ears and eyes. Because laptop ensembles are technologically intense, the musical compositions tend to call for improvisation as a way to balance the demand that the technology requires.
The Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble is the premiere laptop ensemble at Montana State University. Founded by professor Hsiao-Lan Wang in fall 2009, it brings together the tradition of ensemble music playing and the computational power of the latest laptops at the crossroads of human-machine performative experience. Electric Monster actively commissions new pieces written specifically for the ensemble. This Friday, you will hear three world premieres of commissions from the Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble.
Concert Program
Five Pieces for Laptop Quartet by Adam Scott Neal
“Presets” & “Baffin Bay”
OM (premiere) by Kyong Mee Choi
Spider Fugue by Freed Hartmann
Hsiao-Lan Wang, piano; Kent Johnson, inside piano
Clean Slate (premiere) by Cole Ingraham
Solid State by Greg Surges
Lissette Norman, flute
Wind Farm (premiere) by John Gibson
joined by Will Hartley and Zac Wallace
WaveDrag by Jeff Morris
Patrick McCann, electric guitar
Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble
Hsiao-Lan Wang, director
Clayton DeSimone
Justin Gannon
Stephan Gueguen
Kent Johnson
Theo Lipfert
Patrick McCann
Lissette Norman
Electric Monster’s first couple of weeks
Posted by hlwang in conducting, teaching on 09/15/2009
The Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble started rehearsing a couple weeks ago at Montana State University. We have 7 members, plus myself. Sometimes I facilitate the ensemble, and sometimes I join in. As this is a medium unfamiliar to many, I like to put in a few nice words–It is really fun! Well, at least when things work right. I have been asked at various occasions: What exactly does a laptop ensemble sound like? Well, that is completely up to the composers and performers. The Electric Monster is currently playing pieces written in Max/MSP, PureData, Java, and PowerPoint (you heard that right!). Our setup is minimal for rehearsals: 2 mixers and 2 Eon speakers. We each use a Hosa cable and plug right into the mixer from headphone jacks.
Because laptop ensembles are technologically intense, the musical compositions tend to rely more on improvisation, maybe as a way to balance the rigid technology that composers wrestle with so much. To make communication and improvisation easier, I am starting to employ hand gestures to direct the players, similar to conduction. John Zorn’s game pieces also have a strong influence on the way we perform.
Thanks to the following composers for contributing their music or instruments for us this fall:
John Gibson
Kyong Mee Choi
Greg Surges
Adam Scott Neal
Cole Ingraham
Freed Hartmann
Jeff Morris
More update on the Electric Monster soon.
Peaks and Potentials Summer Workshop
I have been asked to teach a summer workshop called the Peaks and Potentials at Montana State University. It is designed for high potential 5th-7th grade students. I have always enjoyed working with younger students to help them learn the art of music performance, creativity, and appreciation. Just consider the impact of educating the next generation of musicians and music lovers among us. Montana is a relatively isolated place where contemporary arts do not typically find their way into the general population. I decided to offer a workshop on sound design for visual media. This topic could be interpreted in various ways: it could mean more conventional foley effects for film or venture into experimental video art. It is going to be a rewarding experience for all involved.
Workshop dates: 06/22-26/2009
Teaching and Learning – a reflective moment
Being a music professor is one of my dreams all these years. Now I have a chance to live this dream. Let me explain: The social status (or the lack of) and financial stability that come with the position is of less of a concern. I dreamed of being able to learn through teaching, and share my excitement for knowledge, creativity, and beauty with my students. When I was still in school, I always got very excited when semesters were about to begin just thinking about all the new beautiful things I will discover soon. Of course learning can be achieved in a variety of ways, not limited to academia. But the benefit of doing it together with others in a structured setting makes all the difference for me. My dear students, I hope you all know how lucky you are to be in school and I am glad I can accompany you in part of this wonderful journey.
A Quick Inspiration – Bubbles’ Dream
The film scoring class I am teaching has its first project due today. My students are supposed to compose a short piece with a designated haiku or short story in mind when they compose it. I was getting really excited about hearing the projects in a few hours, and I was laying in bed and suddenly I had a quick inspiration: why don’t I compose a piece like my students would! The musical ideas just flood into my mind. Thank goodness Mia is asleep so I can have a moment to flush out this piece. What a blast!
Haiku by Kijo Murakami (1865-1938)
The moment two bubbles
are united, they both vanish.
A lotus blooms.
I am calling it Bubbles’ Dream, since the ideas came so quickly and spun together like a sweet dream.
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Appointment at Montana State University
I have recently accepted the job offer at Montana State University in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, to start in fall 2008. The position is in a rapidly growing music technology program that has seen great success in the past two years under program director Kristi McGarity’s leadership. I am very excited about the new possibilities for my personal growth but I am most excited about being able to learn and research with my future students. Teaching is the best way to learn!
Associate Conductor of FMCO
Posted by hlwang in conducting, teaching on 09/22/2005
Starting in the 2005 season, Hsiao-Lan is serving as the associate conductor of the Flower Mound Community Orchestras leading its Preparatory Orchestra. There are four scheduled concerts this season and we are currently auditioning new members.
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