Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
World premiere of “My Agnostic Solstice”
The Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco presents the world premiere of “My Agnostic Solstice,” words and music by Jack Curtis Dubowsky, commissioned by Noam Szoke.
The new piece for mixed chorus explores a topic requested by Mr. Szoke: what does an agnostic or atheist sing on a Christmas concert?
“My Agnostic Solstice” will be performed in LGCSF’s legendary annual “Christmas Crap-Array” cabaret, December 16, 17, and 18, 2010 at 8 pm at the EXIT Theatre in San Francisco.
Dubowsky has enjoyed a long relationship with the chorus, which has performed much of his work, including “Silent Holy Hanukah Bush,” the controversial “Magic Snow,” and the choral opera Halloween in the Castro. Dubowsky’s choral music is available at sheetmusicplus.com.
The world's first mixed lesbian and gay chorus, LGCSF is dedicated to building and enriching the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community through song and a love of music. The Chorus has performed around the world, and hundreds of times in San Francisco. LGCSF was founded in 1980 by Bay Area musicians and community members.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/136018
Monday, July 12, 2010
DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE PLAYS Depeche Mode's VIOLATOR (20th Anniversary Concert) at CAFE DU NORD !!! 7/28/10
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE "redefining musical boundaries" San Francisco Classical Voice 9/1/09
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE & STRINGS
PERFORM DEPECHE MODE’S VIOLATOR ALBUM
LIVE IN CONCERT
DATE: Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Doors 7pm, show 8pm
VENUE: Cafe Du Nord, 2170 Market Street, San Francisco CA 94114. Phone: 415 861 5016
TICKETS: $10
BOX OFFICE: Tickets available at the door
ENSEMBLE WEBSITE: http://www.destijlmusic.com/jcde.html
VENUE WEBSITE: http://www.cafedunord.com
HIGH RES PHOTOS: http://www.destijlmusic.com/jcde.html
In a very special engagement, the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble and strings perform the entire Depeche Mode album Violator, start to finish, completely live, with no pre-records or sequencing. For the 20th anniversary of this auspicious album, hear it live, as you have never heard it before.
The Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble, a groundbreaking new music ensemble led by classical and film composer Jack Curtis Dubowsky, combines acoustic instruments, electronic hardware, composed material and structured improvisation. The Ensemble treats analog synth as a rare and unpredictable performance instrument. The Ensemble's contemporary electroacoustic music, is performed and recorded live with no overdubs or sequencing. The Ensemble just released its second album, II, and returned from an April tour of the east coast.
The Ensemble has played chamber concert series, new music series, galleries, alternative performance spaces, and has also presented programs of live music to experimental film.
Personnel
Jack Curtis Dubowsky : Arrangements, Synthesizer, Vocals
Jake Harris : Trombone, Vocals
Fred Morgan : Drums
Yuri Kye : Violin
Alice Kao : Violin
Adam Young : Cello
Ari Gorman: Double Bass
Also appearing:
The Hurd Ensemble exists where electronic, classical, rock, experimental and jazz intersect, combining live electronics with violin, viola, cello, upright bass, and piano for driving, accessible, wildly rhythmic music filled with melody and extremes of percussion. Listen to samples of their work at www.georgehurd.com and www.youtube.com/georgehurd.
ElectroSonic Chamber
Experience the psychedelic sounds of The ElectroSonic Chamber, a four-piece band conceived and born in the Bay Area. Comprised of a Filipino and Bay Area natives, they are a splash of good old California sunshine sprinkled with Trans-Pacific flair. Loud enough to feel some good vibrations, a splendid time is guaranteed for all!
Wilfred Galila - Guitar/Vocals,
Dominic Mercurio - Drums/Samples,
Clint Forney - Guitar,
Joey Hassid - Keyboard.
About Violator
Released twenty years ago in 1990, Depeche Mode’s seventh studio album continued a commercial and artistic flirtation with the American west, the guitar, the synth, and the sampler, all while stretching the structural form of the pop song.
Violator comprises nine songs, two un-indexed experimental “interludes,” and four singles: “Personal Jesus,” “Enjoy the Silence,” “Policy of Truth,” and “World in My Eyes.” The album has sold 13.5 million copies to date, making it DM’s biggest seller, as well as one of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” All of the songs are composed by Martin L. Gore, a combination of recluse and exhibitionist.
“Blue Dress” is really about Martin wearing the dress, not the implied second person. Seen in this manner, “Blue Dress” attempts to elucidate a sexual fetish much in the same vein as “Strangelove” and “Master and Servant.”
The demo version of “Enjoy the Silence” suggests the song was intended to be the next “Somebody” before Alan Wilder’s production pumped the simple chord progression to dance club intensity.
“Personal Jesus” continued both the use of guitar and the homoerotic buddy/savior fixation of “Never Let Me Down Again.” It followed in the twangy footsteps of their unexpected cover of “Route 66” that had been encouraged by their American label and parlayed into an alterative radio hit.
“Clean” features an echoic homage to Pink Floyd’s “One of These Days.”
The album remains to this day both popular and enigmatic, an unlikely crossover that remains influential to this day.
Recent Press
Thursday, May 6, 2010
DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE + STRINGS play Depeche Mode's VIOLATOR (20th Anniversary Concert) June 3, 2010
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE "redefining musical boundaries" San Francisco Classical Voice 9/1/09
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE & STRINGS
PERFORM DEPECHE MODE’S VIOLATOR ALBUM
LIVE IN CONCERT
DATE: Thursday, June 3, 2010, 9 pm
VENUE: Eagle Tavern, 398 12th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-4330. Tel. (415) 626-0880
TICKETS: $6
BOX OFFICE: Tickets available at the door
ENSEMBLE WEBSITE: http://www.destijlmusic.com/jcde.html
VENUE WEBSITE: http://www.sfeagle.com/
HIGH RES PHOTOS: http://www.destijlmusic.com/jcde.html
In a very special engagement, the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble and strings perform the entire Depeche Mode album Violator, start to finish, completely live, with no pre-records or sequencing. For the 20th anniversary of this auspicious album, hear it live, as you have never heard it before.
The Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble, a groundbreaking new music ensemble led by classical and film composer Jack Curtis Dubowsky, combines acoustic instruments, electronic hardware, composed material and structured improvisation. The Ensemble treats analog synth as a rare and unpredictable performance instrument. The Ensemble's contemporary electroacoustic music, is performed and recorded live with no overdubs or sequencing. The Ensemble just released its second album, II, and returned from an April tour of the east coast.
The Ensemble has played chamber concert series, new music series, galleries, alternative performance spaces, and has also presented programs of live music to experimental film.
Personnel
Jack Curtis Dubowsky : Arrangements, Synthesizer, Vocals
Hall Goff : Trombone, Vocals
Fred Morgan : Drums
Yuri Kye : Violin
Alice Kao : Violin
Adam Young : Cello
Also appearing: Monks of Doom. (JCDE Violator goes on first.) http://www.magneticmotorworks.com/monksofdoom.html
Monks of Doom were formed in 1986 by four members of the ever-popular college/indie rock band Camper Van Beethoven.
About Violator
Released twenty years ago in 1990, Depeche Mode’s seventh studio album continued a commercial and artistic flirtation with the American west, the guitar, the synth, and the sampler, all while stretching the structural form of the pop song.
Violator comprises nine songs, two un-indexed experimental “interludes,” and four singles: “Personal Jesus,” “Enjoy the Silence,” “Policy of Truth,” and “World in My Eyes.” The album has sold 13.5 million copies to date, making it DM’s biggest seller, as well as one of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” All of the songs are composed by Martin L. Gore, a combination of recluse and exhibitionist.
“Blue Dress” is really about Martin wearing the dress, not the implied second person. Seen in this manner, “Blue Dress” attempts to elucidate a sexual fetish much in the same vein as “Strangelove” and “Master and Servant.”
The demo version of “Enjoy the Silence” suggests the song was intended to be the next “Somebody” before Alan Wilder’s production pumped the simple chord progression to dance club intensity.
“Personal Jesus” continued both the use of guitar and the homoerotic buddy/savior fixation of “Never Let Me Down Again.” It followed in the twangy footsteps of their unexpected cover of “Route 66” that had been encouraged by their American label and parlayed into an alterative radio hit.
“Clean” features an echoic homage to Pink Floyd’s “One of These Days.”
The album remains both popular and enigmatic, an unlikely crossover that is influential to this day.
Recent Press
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Stephin Merritt 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea SFIFF
Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Stephin Merritt's world premiere of his new score for the 1916 classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, presented by the San Francisco International Film Festival at the Castro Theatre.
I was looking forward to this event, and I must say I was pretty pleased overall.
Merritt's interest in scoring film dates to the 2000 independent film Eban and Charley, although the eccentric, urbane, deep-voiced icon is most known for The Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs, and lispy titles like The Sixths' Hyacinths and Thistles.
The best feature of Merritt's score was the extensive use of theatre organ, played by the Castro's own David Hegarty on the Castro's historic "Mighty Wurlizter." Merritt's score seemed custom-composed for the Castro Theatre and the Wurlitzer; a festival programmer who introduced the program indicated this event was originally slated for December, but rescheduled at Merritt's request in order to have the Castro and the organ.
There's a number of very cool things about Merritt's use of the Wurlitzer. Many programmers (SF International and SF Silent film festivals among others) bring in various ensembles (including Alloy, Clubfoot, Dengue Fever, Tom Verlaine, Brand Upon the Brain) into the Castro Theatre to do live music to film; few actually use the organ. Merritt's score feels site-specific, making the live performance extra special, incorporating not only the house instrument, but the house organist as well. The Wurlitzer is built into the Castro Theatre; what most people look at and perceive as the organ is in fact only the console. All the pipes and instruments and percussion attachments are in the walls and spaces behind mechanical louvers. It is essentially part of the building. Since the 1916 film was shot silent, organ accompaniment further reinforces romantic notions of the era. (The Castro Theatre was actually built in 1922, and the Wurlitzer actually installed in 1979, replacing a Conn 651 which probably dated from the 50s or 60s.)
Merritt and Hegarty were joined by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) on accordion, and a tuba player who was less than solid, but also suffered from passages written too fast for the instrument and without reasonable consideration for breathing. Daniel and Stephin also did some vocalizing, often through megaphones or processing which made them sound like voices from the past.
These vocalizations were amusing but at times tended to poke fun at the film, rather than draw viewers into its grainy world. While some lines might be uproariously clever (the cry of "help!" from a suspended balloonist, or the incessant falsetto "unhand me!" of a molested woman), it veered too often into Mystery Science Theatre 3000 territory - a predictable humor at the expense of the film.
This film was made nearly a century ago and deserves respect; it has been restored from a rare nitrate print at the UCLA archive, and odds are it may be around longer than any of Merritt's work. However, the director is no longer around to oversee its contemporary scoring, and was not available to guide Merritt as one might imagine: "hey, this part is not a joke. This is supposed to be sad / scary / etc." Having scored a few films myself, I have learned to become sensitive to and respectful of a director's intentions. While it is amusing to laugh at an old film, that is the easy way out. It is a greater challenge, but gives a greater cinematic experience, to compose music for an old film that creates in the mind of the viewer the same tension and immersion as a new release.
Nevertheless, wry humor is a big part of Merritt's simple, straightforward score. A feral woman lost on an island sings a song about how she doesn't want to wear pants. Each successive reel begins with essentially the same title card, an opportunity Merritt seizes to humorously reprise his main theme each time.
Here's Merritt's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea main theme:
Merritt's themes were related and used well throughout, instrumentally and with voice. Undersea sections tended to rely on electronics and "doppler" like "submarine" sounds, which could get a bit tiresome after a while. While some of Merritt's electronic sounds used in action sequences or on land could be quite interesting, there was enough underwater photography (quite a feat for a 1916 motion picture) that the underwater "ping" seemed to be a repetitive crutch which didn't match the inventiveness of other electronic sections.
Here are two photographs of Merritt's electronic setup.
That upright electronic thing with knobs appears homemade and has its own little keyboard with white keys that you can barely see, as there's another little box in front of it. Does anyone know what the upright thing with knobs is? Or where Merritt got it?
Merritt's music for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916) is a mature electroacoustic score which incorporates electronics, tuba, accordion, voice, and theatre organ. It relies on humor to liven up the movie, which may or may not be the best thing for this film, although the Castro audience was certainly amused. The Castro was packed, and once again a program of live music to film was one of the finest offerings of the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Quattrocelli Free Show at Amnesia
Classical Revolution hosted a free show by Quattrocelli. Amazing. Amazing this touring German quartet can play in Turlock but not book a paying show in San Francisco. This is how low SF has fallen. Turlock has more opportunity for touring groups than San Francisco. I'm just saying.
At any rate, we are so fortunate that Classical Rev could get this happening for us. I arrived a bit late, so I didn't see all they opened with; it was apparently an Americana set featuring Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue, and the like. Lukas, the birthday boy cellist, vocalized a "trombone solo" on "Summertime" using his bow as a prop slide. It was very amusing and brought much laughter from the crowd.
The second half of the concert was an amazing set of film score music. Highlights included original arrangements of the Magnificent Seven title theme, the Empire March from Stern Kriege, some Morricone, and a really touching rendition of My Way. The entire show was performed off-book, with the notable exception being a few notes on slide-whistle, for which there was, comically and conspicuously, a music stand and part.
The sound of the group is amazing. You know how in the competitive barbershop world, the quartets carefully audition voices which blend perfectly? This was like that, but on cellos. The tone matched so perfectly, it was astounding. You could oftentimes hardly distinguish who was playing what part, you had to look closely. Quite amazing.
Outside of matched tone, there was lots of interesting cello technique on display. Notably, one large-handed cellist could strum his cello like a guitar, and also play it with a plectrum like a large guitar. This made an amazing sound.
If you missed Quattrocelli here in SF, catch them March 20 in Turlock (no kidding), or on the 21st and 22nd in Los Gatos (also no kidding.) Check their website for details on those gigs and the rest of their tour.
Friday, March 5, 2010
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE embarks on East Coast Tour 2010
For immediate release:
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE embarks on East Coast Tour 2010
The release of Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble II , our 2nd album, is supported by these upcoming engagements:
Wed April 7 8-9 pm Endless Possibilities WRSU 88.7 New Brunswick NJ
Th April 8 9-10 pm Live Block BSR 88.1 FM WELH Providence RI
Fri April 9 9:30 pm The Tank, 354 West 45th St., NYC
Sat April 10 9 am-noon Fiat Flux WHUS 91.7 FM, Storrs CT
Sun April 11 2 pm Lily Pad, Cambridge MA
Mon April 12 9 pm AS220, Providence RI
"redefining musical boundaries" San Francisco Classical Voice 9/1/09
The Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble, a groundbreaking new music ensemble led by classical and film composer Jack Curtis Dubowsky, combines acoustic instruments, electronic hardware, composed material and structured improvisation. The Ensemble treats analog synth as a rare and unpredictable performance instrument. The Ensemble's contemporary electroacoustic music, abstract, spacious, and transcendental, is performed and recorded live with no overdubs, software, or sequencing.
Based in San Francisco, the Ensemble has played chamber concert series, new music series, galleries, alternative performance spaces, and has presented special programs of live music to experimental film. This April, the Ensemble embarks on their first tour of East Coast appearances in support of their second album, Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble II.
Performances at The Tank (NYC) and AS220 (Providence RI) include highlights from the Ensemble's programs of live music for experimental film, including shorts by Samara Halperin and Tom Graeff.
Detailed Tour Schedule
DATE: Wednesday, April 7, 8-9pm
RADIO PROGRAM: Endless Possibilities WRSU 88.7 New Brunswick NJ
PROGRAM WEBSITE: www.epmusic.wordpress.com/
STATION WEBSITE: www.wrsu.rutgers.edu/
DATE: Thursday, April 8 9-10pm
RADIO PROGRAM: Live Block BSR 88.1 FM WELH Providence RI
PROGRAM WEBSITE: www.bsrlive.com/archives/show.php?s=49
STATION WEBSITE: www.bsrlive.com/schedule/
DATE: Friday, April 9, 2010, 9:30 pm
VENUE: The Tank, 354 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Between 8th and 9th Aves. A,C,E to 42nd St/Times Sq.
Telephone: 212-563-6269
TICKETS: $10
BOX OFFICE: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/97288
EVENT WEBSITE: www.thetanknyc.org/music
VENUE CONTACT: Suzan Erasian suz@thetanknyc.org
DATE: Saturday, April 10, 9am-noon
RADIO PROGRAM: Fiat Flux WHUS 91.7 FM, Storrs CT
PROGRAM WEBSITE: www.fiatfluxradio.blogspot.com/
STATION WEBSITE: www.whus.org/schedule.php
DATE: Sunday, April 11, 2010, 2 pm
VENUE: The Lily Pad, Inman Square
1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge MA 02139
Telephone: (617) 395-1393
TICKETS: $10
BOX OFFICE: Tickets available at the door.
EVENT WEBSITE: www.lily-pad.net/archives/2010/04/11/
VENUE CONTACT: gill@lily-pad.net
DATE: Monday, April 12, 2010, 9 pm
VENUE: AS220
115 Empire Street, Providence RI, 02903
Telephone: 401-831-9327
TICKETS: $6
BOX OFFICE: Tickets available at the door
EVENT WEBSITE: www.as220.org/calendar.html
VENUE CONTACT: info@as220.org
JACK CURTIS DUBOWSKY ENSEMBLE
MEMBER BIOS
Keyboardist and bassist Jack Curtis Dubowsky is an active composer, conductor, writer, educator, and filmmaker. Dubowsky has composed four chamber operas and scored five feature films including That Man Peter Berlin, Rock Haven, and Redwoods. The short film NYC Dilemma about this working composer premiered 2006 at BFI in London. Dubowsky's choral music has been performed internationally by groups including San Francisco Choral Artists, Desert Voices, Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, and Mount Eden Chorus. His orchestral music has been performed by Castro Valley Chamber Orchestra, and chamber music by Classical Revolution, Snopea Chamber Ensemble, Organic Sound Experiment, Collaborata, and Paradigm Brass. Dubowsky has received grants from Meet the Composer, Zellerbach Family Fund, Friends of San Francisco Public Library, and American Composers Forum. Dubowsky produced recordings by Winsome Griffles, Glen Meadmore, and Virgin Whore Complex. Dubowsky's award winning "Mr Jones" parody is a highlight of the Momus album Stars Forever. Dubowsky attended the Aspen School, and received his MM in Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Dubowsky studied composition with David Conte, Conrad Susa, Elinor Armer, and Michael Czajkowski. Dubowsky is a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. His sheet music is distributed by SheetMusicPlus and Theodore Front Musical Literature.
Percussionist Fred Morgan received his BM in percussion performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the study of Jack Van Geem and his MM from the New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Will Hudgins. Fred currently studies timpani with San Francisco Timpanist David Herbert; past teachers include Andrew Lewis, James Lee Wyatt, and Alan Hall. Fred played William Kraft's first timpani concerto with the Oakland East Bay Symphony in 2003 as a winner of the orchestra's Young Artist Competition. Fred was a member of the San Francisco Youth Symphony from 1997-2002. Fred has performed as a timpanist and percussionist in the Hong Kong Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Kansas City Symphony. Fred performs with SF Symphony brass and boys choir at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and has subbed with the Midsummer Mozart Festival. Fred participated in festivals of Spoleto USA, Schleswig-holstein, Music Academy of the West, Jeunnesses Musicales, National Orchestral Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival. Contemporary engagements include work with the Sprocket Ensemble and performances and recordings of the music of Erling Wold. Fred subs with the Oakland East bay Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony. Fred has received a percussion chair in the Stockton Symphony.
LINKS:
www.destijlmusic.com/jcde.html
HIGH RES PHOTOS: http://www.destijlmusic.com/jcde.html (includes photo credits)
DISCOGRAPHY:
Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble I
Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble II
Make a Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble station on Pandora!
http://www.pandora.com/music/artist/jack+curtis+dubowsky
Or on Rhapsody:
http://www.rhapsody.com/jack-curtis-dubowsky-ensemble
RECENT PRESS:
http://www.sequenza21.com/2009/09/ten-questions-for-jack-curtis-dubowsky/
http://www.sfcv.org/preview/dubowsky-ensemble-meets-its-meridian
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/22/NSMQ1A5HHC.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/06/BAB119GUJR.DTL
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/around-town/events/Castro-Halloween-Lives-on---65771667.html
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Friday, January 22, 2010
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