Saturday, April 13, 2013

Grad Level Project: Cup of Coffee and the Special.


Grad Level Project
Cup of Coffee and the Special
Animation with Audio.
Cup of Coffee and the Special is an original soundscape composition composed during my undergrad studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. During my undergrad studies, I had the pleasure to study electronic music composition under Professor Jean-Paul Perrotte. During my studies, I presented two recitals of original works. This piece was one of them.

Cup of Coffee and the Special consists of sounds that are common at a diner. The piece is made up of concrete concrète sounds that I recorded in my mother’s kitchen. The piece was inspired by years of visiting my sister as she worked as a hostess at a local diner in Carson City, Nevada. As I sat at the counter, a variety of sounds happened all around me. The piece recreates the environment of any local diner.

To make the piece more enjoyable for the viewer, I put together a slideshow of free domain images. When the piece premiered, the audience enjoyed the work, but my Professor was disappointed in the lack of original creation in the visual aspect. Being a music major, I had minimal experience in any photo/video editing software. That is one of the major reasons I am taking this class. My goal is to attain new skills to help propel my art forward. Using the skills we have learned in Photoshop, I will create an animated visual element to the piece. This will add more interest and depth to the piece.

Original Program Notes.
In every town, there is a diner where all the locals go.  This is a place where you will find people from every walk of life. From the retiree at the counter that is there every morning reading the paper, to the family having brunch after church, everyone feels welcome here.  This piece was inspired by sounds I heard while visiting my sister while she worked as a hostess.  Sitting at the counter, the sounds of the open grill, to coffee brewing, and the juicer buzzing, are some of my fondest memories of Saturday morning.  No matter what diner you are at, you can always order a cup of coffee and the special.
For Megan, you have broken free and achieved all of your dreams.


New Program Notes/Artist Statement
Cup of Coffee and the Special
is an original soundscape composition consisting of
concrete concrète sounds common in an American diner. In every town, there is a diner where all the locals go. This is a place where you will find people from every walk of life. From the retiree at the counter that is there every morning reading the paper, to the family having brunch after church, everyone feels welcome here.  This piece was inspired by sounds I heard while visiting my sister while she worked as a hostess.  Sitting at the counter, the sounds of the open grill, to coffee brewing, and the juicer buzzing, are some of my fondest memories of Saturday morning. Supporting the soundscape is a video animation of the activities at a diner. The animation was created after the sound soundscape and is intended to place the viewer at their favorite diner. No matter what diner you are at, you can always order a cup of coffee and the special.
For Megan, you have broken free and achieved all of your dreams.


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