Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 07/30/2014
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed acoustically
The image “Children” (1967) accompanying today’s post by Meredith Monk.
Notes:
This improvisation was quickly developed and recorded after reading about the current atrocities being committed in the Middle East between the Israelis and Palestinians. I was particularly horrified by the images and spoken accounts of the grossly disproportionate number of Palestinian casualties in the conflict.
07/26/2014 (Continuous Resonance Improvisation)
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 07/26/2014
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed acoustically
The image “Flag” (1988) accompanying today’s post by Roman Signer
Notes:
During this improvisation I used a trumpet harmon mute, which was placed inside the bell of my horn and allowed to resonate and shake.
07/23/2014 (Continuous Resonance Improvisation) Using a harmon mute in the bell)
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 07/23/2014
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed acoustically
The image image “Untitled (Divided) I” (2004) accompanying today’s post by Barnaby Furnas.
Notes:
During this improvisation I used a harmon mute inside my bell and played at a very low dynamic level. The use of continuos tonguing with the lower “bell key” fingerings such as Low C, B, and Bb while using the harmon mute is a sound concept I’ve explored a few times in recordings over the past year or so. This is yet another step towards uncovering new mysteries.
-Neil
07/18/2014 (Solo Improvisation inspired by the death of 4 innocent Palestinian children)
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 07/18/2014
Location: The bathroom at my house in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed acoustically
Notes:
On 07/16/2014 four Palestinian children were playing together at a beach when they were brutally attacked, twice, by Israeli troops. Three of the four appear to have been gunned down while running away from the initial attack. Today’s improvisation was inspired by this incident. I pulled off my mouthpiece and explored tight, choked off air flow blown directly into the neck of my horn.
The image accompanying today’s post shows a man carrying a dead child, one of 4 killed by Israeli troops while playing at a beach in the Gaza Strip. Photo credit (Reuters).
-Neil
07/17/2014 (Continuous Resonance Solo Improvisation)
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 07/17/2014
Location: The band room at South Whidbey High School in Langley, WA (Whidbey Island)
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed acoustically
Notes:
This improvisation was recorded between teaching my students this afternoon. In it I focused on developing non sequitur themes, explored for time, some returning, some abandoned.
The image “Surf and Seaweed” (1931) by Ralph Steiner.
-Neil