D. J. SPARR

ELECTRIC BANDS

innova 013

 

 

Tracks 1-5:

 

I Can Hear Her Through The Thin Wall Singing – 16:25

 (K. Bachrach/D. J. Sparr)

 

Kristina Bachrach, Soprano

D. J. Sparr, Guitar

 

 

I.     Elegy After Midnight (4:28)

II.   The Guitar (1:44)

III. The Singing (3:28)

IV.   The Piano (2:31)

V.     Heaven (4:11)

 

Track 6:

 

Meta444 – 7:44

(H.J. Pivnick/B. Matzke/D.J. Sparr)

 

Hajnal Kármán Pivnick, Violin

Brianna Matzke, Piano

D. J. Sparr, Electronics

 

Track 7:

 

String Quartet: Avaloch – 14:22

 

Momenta Quartet

Emilie-Anne Gendron, Violin

Adda Kridler, Violin

Stephanie Griffin, Viola

Michael Haas, Cello

 

Tracks 8-12:

 

EARTHCASTER SUITE – 8:51

(K. Galvin/S. Galvin/D.J. Sparr)

 

        Drips (2:21)

        Bells (1:21)

        Family (1:00)

        Work (2:05)

        Dance (1:57)

 

Karen Strittmatter Galvin, Violins

Shawn Galvin, Percussion

D. J. Sparr, Guitars, Banjo, Mandolin

Kimberly Sparr, Violas

Jake Wenger, Cellos

Mark Morton, Double Bass, Hammond Organ

 

Total: 47:12


I CAN HEAR HER THROUGH THE WALL SINGING is inspired by Brooklyn poet Patrick Phillips’ spare, modern, and emotional work. This song cycle conveys themes of love: platonic, romantic, and familial. It draws equally from rich classical tradition as well as contemporary sounds that are associated with the electric guitar. | META444 was written for The Response Project’s “ON BEHALF” series. Sparr composed on behalf of metaphor. The soundscape features percussive instruments and searing guitars which work in consort with the acoustic violin and piano. The combination of timbres blends uniqueness of spirit with commonality and respect. | In the summer of 2014, the Momenta Quartet and Sparr spent a week at Avaloch Farm Music Institute working on a new piece. Surrounded by apple orchards, musicians rehearsed all day, took walks through the woods, and attended evening performances. In Irish Mythology, “Avaloch” is a paradise of everlasting beauty whose residents danced the days away. In STRING QUARTET: AVALOCH, each performer triggers pre-recorded music on a personal playback device, creating a timeless effect. | EARTHCASTER SUITE was composed for a documentary about artist Thomas Sayre. Sayre’s process blends art and science, addresses the past and future, and joins the natural and man-made in a sometimes-dangerous dance of gravity and grace. EARTHCASTER highlights Sayre’s formative life experiences including growing up as a child of a dean of Washington National Cathedral when the Gloria in Excelsis Tower was under construction.

djsparr.com

 

Tracks 1-5 recorded at Rocking Horse Studios (Pittsfield, NH) by Brian Coombes and Joshua Kimball. Track 6 Recorded at PianoForte Studios (Chicago, IL) by Victor LeJeune. Track 7 recorded at Peter Karl Studios (Brooklyn, NY) by Peter Karl. Tracks 8-12 percussion, violin, and cello recorded at Bunker Sound Productions (Chapel Hill, NC) by Jason Richmond. Guitars, banjo, mandolin, viola, double bass, and Hammond Organ recorded and Amusement Park Recording Studio (Lubbock, TX) by Scott Faris. All tracks Mixed and Mastered at Swineshead Productions, LLC by David v.R. Bowles. Produced by D. J. Sparr.

Special thanks to Avaloch Farm Music Institute

 

I CAN HEAR HER THROUGH THE THIN WALL SINGING

commissioned by Kristina Bachrach

poetry by Patrick Phillips. Used with permission

patrickphillipsbooks.com

 

META444

commissioned by The Response Project

theresponseproject.org

 

EARTHCASTER

a documentary by Minnow Media

earthcasterdoc.net

 

Image Credit:  

CORPUS COLLOSUM by Thomas Sayre

thomassayre.com

 

Innova Director: Philip Blackburn

Operations Director: Chris Campbell

Publicist: Tim Igel

Innova is supported by an endowment from the McKnight Foundation.