Computer Directions
Liner Notes   Cat. No. NWCRL456     Release Date: 2011-04-10
Hannah Mackay, reader; George Shirley, tenor

Paul Lansky writes:

“Speech and song are commonly thought of as different and distinct — as oranges and apples. It is my feeling, however, that they are more usefully thought of as occupying opposite ends of a wide spectrum of musical potential. It is, after all, a common experience to listen with musical ears to the sonic surface of an unfamiliar spoken language, just as it is to perceive the potent speech-like inflections of sung language, particularly in jazz, popular and folk music.

“My Six Fantasies are exploratory visits to different points along this spectrum. The point of origin for these explorations is a spoken performance by the actress Hannah MacKay (who is also my wife) of the well-known poem by Thomas Campion. While Campion considers the contrast between the implicit, heavenly music of Lawra's beauty, and the explicit and plain earthly music we must resign ourselves to make, I took the opportunity to play with the implicit music within an excellent spoken performance of this explicitly musical poem.

James Dashow writes:

Second Voyage reflects my ongoing interest in harmonizing specific pitches with the results of their own modulation spectra. The notes in the voice part, grouped together in two's and three's, were subjected to frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, and other signal processing. Each generating diad or triad thus yielded a variety of 'chord- spectra' (made up largely of non-harmonic partials) from which I chose material to harmonize the vocal line. The syllabic setting of the text reflects the way one might read the poem naturally, in an interpretive fashion.


This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.

Various Artists

Computer Directions

MP3/320 $7.99
FLAC $7.99
WAV $7.99
CD-R $7.99
CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print material or jewel case included.
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
   Liner Notes



Track Listing

Six Fantasies on a Poem by Thomas Campion: her voice
Paul Lansky
Buy
Six Fantasies on a Poem by Thomas Campion: her presence
Paul Lansky
Buy
Six Fantasies on a Poem by Thomas Campion: her reflection
Paul Lansky
Buy
Six Fantasies on a Poem by Thomas Campion: her song
Paul Lansky
Buy
Six Fantasies on a Poem by Thomas Campion: her ritual
Paul Lansky
Buy
Six Fantasies on a Poem by Thomas Campion: her self
Paul Lansky
Buy
Second Voyage
James Dashow
Buy