02/09/2014 (Continuous Resonance) 2 improvisations--the developmental process

Date: 02/09/2014

Instrument: Tenor saxophone

Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)

Performed acoustically

Notes:

I recorded two improvisations today, labeled “Initial Version” and “Final Version” respectively.  After recording the Initial Version, I ultimately felt that I had not fulfilled the mission of the improvisation and decided to use this take as an initial springboard for further development.  I recorded a second piece with a complimentary, and in my estimation, more successful overall approach, noted here as the Final Version.

The image “Her Affect On Branches” accompanying this post by Ernesto Caivano (2009).

01/31/2014 (Continuous Resonance Project)

image

Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project

Date: 01/31/2014

Instrument: Tenor saxophone

Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)

Performed acoustically

The image accompanying this post by Marc Riboud.

Notes:

This morning I spent a few hours in a coffee shop on the island.  Sitting in the empty front room, I read from “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, of which I’ve been working my way through this past month.  I’m currently on the chapter “Impossible Victory: Vietnam.” I was particularly horrified by the description of the My Lai killings:

“There was an order to shoot by Lieutenant Calley, I can’t remember the exact words–it was something like ‘Start Firing.’

"Meadlo tuned to me and said: 'Shoot, why don’t you shoot?’

"He was crying.”

“I said, 'I can’t.  I won’t.’

"Then Lieutenant Calley and Meadlo pointed their rifles into the ditch and fired.

"People were diving on top of each other; mothers were trying to protect their children…”

(quotations from “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn).

01/30/2014 (Continuous Resonance Project)

Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project

Date: 01/23/2014

Instrument: Tenor saxophone

Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)

Performed acoustically

The image accompanying today’s post by Christiane Baumgartner (2011).

01/27/2014 (Continuous Resonance) "Throat Singing" improvisation.

Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project

Date: 01/23/2014

Instrument: Tenor saxophone

Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)

Performed acoustically

Notes:

Throat singing technique with a Concert G fundamental.  I sang tones on and within the concert pitches D and C, all of which were below the G root.  I primarily used a single fingering, which was as follows:

(Left Hand) 1-2-3, Low Bb // (Right Hand) 2-3.  I also occasionally opened the Low Eb key, and Octaves keys in combination with this fingering as well.

The image “Schwarzes Loch” accompanying today’s post by Jjorn Dahlem (2004).