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Spazi Di Calabi (on old Jenco Vibraphone) by Joe Porter

JoePorter 25 July 2010

As requested a video of my old jenco vibraphone. I really like the sound on this old beast. It is extremely challenging to play a piece like this on it however because the bars are so tiny.

Comments

behng Mon, 07/26/2010 - 00:53

Wow, what a great piece, and you play it beautifully. Could you tell us a little bit about it? I used to play some classical/comtemporary music, but I'm pretty unfamilar with the stuff that's out there.

Behn

Marie-Noëlle Mon, 07/26/2010 - 02:11

If you're asking this question, it means you didn't listen to all the tunes that were posted for Tony's birthdy on July 1st! How can you!!! ;-)

Here is Joe's first version of this tune (I loved the "reverb" he put on it that added even more to the "heady" atmosphere): http://www.vibesworkshop.com/node/4196/

And here is the link to all the tunes of that day: http://www.vibesworkshop.com/node/4186/

This is beautiful piece and rendition Joe! Surely a true challenge to play on the Jenco tiny bars!!

I'd too like to know more about this piece! Tell us!

- M

behng Mon, 07/26/2010 - 18:54

Whoa, you got me Marie, I have commited VW sin! Do I get grounded now? I think I should only get one week punishment since there were like 80 posts on Tony's birthday. Too many, oh the horror!!! Haha.

Behn

JoePorter Mon, 07/26/2010 - 20:18

This piece utilizes several cool compositional techniques:

1)Floating tonality: Sitting on what we think is I but then goes to Major III and sits on the III. The III then acts as a tonic and you don't really know what tonic is. This happens several times. III doesn't function as strongly as other chords. It's not really a pre-dominant like II or it isn't a Dominant like V or VII and it isn't really used a deceptive chord either. In this piece it acts as a floating chord as a tonic substitute.

2)Relative Minor Major chords: The very opening run is a Cmaj7 arpeggio. but then all the sudden your in A minor. Same sort of floating tonality concept.

3)Pitch displacement - Patterns get displaced changing the flow and feel. This mainly happens in the first half.

4)3 against 2 polyrhythm in the second half. "The Philip Glass Signature". Also the melody gets shifted into the left hand for certain moments.

5)2 tempo changes.

6)Small changes over time. Often in this piece specially the 3 against 2 section, it's neat how when you change 1 pitch it changes everything. This keeps happening like you morph into the progression.

7)Technically challenging. Playing this piece is interesting for me because the patterns that you play give your hands a certain feeling, effecting how you play the pattern.

8)Use of repetition. This piece is influenced by minimalism, however I would say it's more "technical"

9)Great composition use of melody lines that stick out over the patterns. I like how there are always atleast two levels in this piece.

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