Composers Forum is a daily web log that allows invited contemporary composers to share their thoughts and ideas on any topic that interests them--from the ethereal, like how new music gets created, music history, theory, performance, other composers, alive or dead, to the mundane, like getting works played and recorded and the joys of teaching. If you're a professional composer and would like to participate, send us an e-mail.
Record companies, artists and publicists are invited to submit CDs to be considered for review. Send to: Jerry Bowles, Editor, Sequenza 21, 340 W. 57th Street, 12B, New York, NY 10019
I'm surprised that the new album He Poos Clouds from Final Fantasy has not been mentioned in this forum or on Blackdogred's blog. Final Fantasy is a.k.a. Canadian violinist, singer, and composer Owen Pallett. I had the pleasure of opening for him several times in England last May.
He Poos Clouds has ten excellent examples of how a sophisticated and carefully crafted composition can work as an adventurous pop song (and vice versa), and the instrumentation just happens to be very "classical" sounding. Owen plays violin and sings; he uses looping pedals and harmonizers in live performance, performing most of his songs alone on stage. The album has more expansive arrangements with string quartet, harpsichord, piano, percussion, etc.
Pounce on me if you think I'm promoting someone who doesn't need help from S21, but you should all know about this album. It's great. You can get it in the iTunes music store (search for "He Poos Clouds") or at your local progressive music retailer.
UPDATE: He Poos Clouds is now available on eMusic.
