“Electric Songs”
Music on Jewish themes by Bob Gluck, for live electronic performance systems
1. Zamir (2003) saz and electronics
2. Sshofar (2002) shofar and electronics
3. Doina (2003) saz and electronics
4. Shofar (2002) shofar and electronics
5. Interlude (2002) saz and electronics
6. Shofaralong (2001) shofar and electronics
7. Electric Songs I (2003) shofar and electronics; Zoe Zak: voice
8. Electric Songs II (2003) shofar and electronics; Zoe Zak: voice
9. Electric Songs III (2003) shofar and electronics; Zoe Zak: voice
10. Cape Cod Imaginary Landscape (1974) musique concrete
The saz is a classical Turkish long-neck stringed instrument in the lute family. This 'eSaz' has been fitted with I-Cube sensors that measure finger pressure and position. They are placed on the sides of th neck and on the body of the saz, to allow simultaneous control over multiple parameters. The shofar (ram's horn) is an ancient instrument whose purpose is not strictly musical. The shofar blast - in our day, mostly limited to the Jewish High Holy Days - provides a call to reflection, an alarm, a wake-up call. The 'eShofar' sounds are amplified, recorded live, and digitally filtered in realtime. The processing is controlled by finger movements within an I-Cube sensor glove worn on the hand that holds the shofar. The goal is to listen 'inside' the sound of the shofar. eBoard is a home designed and built interactive electronic musical instrument, created by Bob Gluc, using I-Cube sensors and digitizer. Musical materials include sound samples manipulated in real-time, a 'Dulci-harp' elecric stringed instrument, and computer models of a flute and a stringed instrument. The eBoard is played by placing and pressing one's fingers along various positions on the instrument, tilting the instrument, and plucking a group of four dulcimer strings (they have been attached to the eBoard using parts from a violin and an electric guitar). Bob Gluck custom designs his live electronic performance systems using Max/MSP software.
credits
released January 1, 2003
Live performances by:
Bob Gluck (Live electronic performance system: Turkish baglama saz, traditional Jewish shofar (ram’s horn); electronic sensor expansions connected to the instruments, including I-cube sensor glove controller; Max/MSP software interface; on Electric Songs (“Shirim Hashmaliyim”): “eBoard” sensor-based electronic instrument, voice, Max/MSP interface, and electronics). A Digitech Control 8 pedal board is used to shape the mix and toggle between sensor assignments.
Zoe Zak (voice) on Electric Songs I, II, III
From live performances at multiple locations across the United States.
Cover photo: Joel Chadabe
Rear photo: Bob Gluck
CD packaging design: Bob Gluck aith Stanley Gluck
Many thanks to my family for their support and encouragement, Joel Chadabe, Curtis Bahn and Neil Rolnick, David Zicarelli and everyone at Cycling 74; Axel Mulder and the people at Infusion Systems; Perry Cook, Dan Trueman, and R Luke Dubois for the software physical flute model; and Benjamin Chadabe for the bell sound sample. Thank you Carolyn Funes, Aileen and Stan Gluck Arnie and Sarah Gluck, Wendy and Eitan Haber, Rita Lerman, Peter Schubin, Rachel Civens, Elizabeth Bolton, Linda Motzkin and Jonathan Rubenstein, and Mark Haag for helping make this CD possible. Thanks to Zoe Zak for her contributions to my past two years of concertizing.
I am greatly indebted to the music and aesthetic perspectives of Keith Jarrett, Ozan Firat, Miles Davis and Ted Macero, Josef Zawimul, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendix, and Toru Takemitsu. The kemenche sound is by Hasan Enen.
"Cape Cod Imaginary Landscape" is included in loving memory of my late teacher and friend, Don Funes.
This CD is dedicated to my father Stanley Gluck whose patience and determination this year has been inspiring.
Bob Gluck is a pianist, composer, writer, rabbi, educator. Chronogram: “an accomplished and passionate pianist in the most
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