Jacob David Sudol(b. Des Moines, Iowa 1980) writes intimate compositions that explore enigmatic phenomena and the inner nature of how we perceive sound. He recently finished his M.Mus. at McGill University and currently resides in La Jolla, CA where he is working towards a Ph.D. in composition at the University of California at San Diego with Roger Reynolds, Chinary Ung, Philippe Manoury, and Rand Steiger.
Over the last five years some of Jacob's mentors in composition have included John Rea, Denys Bouliane, Philippe Leroux, Sean Ferguson, Dan Asia, and Craig Walsh. He has also participated in master classes with Danish composer Bent Sørensen and German composer Manfred Stahnke.
During 2005-2006, Jacob was the first-ever composer-in-residence for the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble under the direction of Denys Bouliane, in collaboration with the McGill Digital Composition Studio. He has also written music for the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, the Contemporary Keyboard Society, percussionist Fernando Rocha, saxophonist Elizabeth Bunt, and clarinetist Krista Martynes. As an undergraduate at the University of Arizona, he composed the music for a collaborative dance project with choreographer Hillary Peterson, and he was the principal composer and pianist for El Proyecto de Santa Barbara, a chamber Latin jazz ensemble.
During the 2005 and 2007 Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques and 2006 MusiMars festivals Jacob was an electronic assistant for performances with Court-Circuit, Matt Haimovitz, Sara Laimon, Martin Matalon, Moritz Eggert, Manfred Stahnke, the Caput Ensemble, and the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble. These concerts were broadcast by the CBC and the European Broadcasting Union in over fifty countries throughout the world. He is currently a studio research assistant for Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Roger Reynolds.
During his free time Jacob takes an active interest in religious phenomenology, cinema, acoustics, literature, poetry, and visual art. As a composer and performer, he always attempts to bring insights from these other fields into his work.
Disclaimer:
All music posted on this blog is posted out of love and the idea that for the truly great music of our time(s) to be known it must first and foremost be heard. If you like what you hear please support the artist by buying the recordings, scores, and/or encouraging the performances of the music in every way possible.
If you are the composer, performer, performing organization, artist or directly represent the composer, performer, performing organization, or artist of anything posted on this website and would like your material removed please contact me and I will happily oblige.
If you don’t already have “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” buy it now.
* * * * *
Forty years ago the Beatles’ seminal album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released. I can’t gush about how I consider it the best album ever because I reserve that title for Kid A, but I can talk about my relationship with Sgt. Pepper’s and some of what it has personally meant to me.
When describing my position as a popular music aficionado I often claim I am at heart a Beatles baby because when I was about eight or nine, and really began to start loving music, it was through the Beatles. One of the defining moments that I remember was a weekend when Tucson’s now defunct 92.9 KOOL FM played the Beatles for half an hour every other half hour. I remember enthusiastically recording many of these half hours on my handheld cassette player to listen to later.
Soon after I inquisitively rummaged through my parents record collection and discovered their original mono copy of “Sgt. Pepper’s” (complete with the original cardboard cutouts). This worn-out old record was the first album I really came to love and soon after it was also my first of far too many compact discs.
To this day “Sgt. Pepper’s,” along with almost of the Beatles’ middle and late catalogue, are perennial favorites in my collection and always function as a sort of charming musical relief from whatever stresses life throws at me. With time I’ve also learned to more greatly appreciate the musical depths in their work and this album. At first I was just drawn to the catchy melodies. Since then I’ve also fallen for the arrangements (to which I largely must credit George Martin), countermelodies, lyrical content, and – what has possibly been the most important in my compositional life – the restless searching experimentalism. Because of this I think that “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” along with most of the Beatles’ catalogue have aged particularly well and will probably continue to hold up just as well for decades to come.
* * *
By the way, I’m taking part in the convocation for my Masters’ of Music in composition at McGill today. For those who are curious, or don’t know yet, I’ll be heading to the University of California at San Diego to start my Ph.D. in September.
Also, if you’re in Montreal and a friend or acquaintance that doesn’t already know about this, Denys Bouliane is throwing a party at his house tonight. The bus (!?!) loads at 17h30 in front of the Strathcona Music Building and returns downtown around 2h00 or 3h00.
I agree Jacob, "Sgt. Pepper's" is a beautiful work, it transcends the boundaries of ordinary popular music. A great companion album to this one is "We're only in it for the money" by Zappa and the Mothers. Congrats on finishing your Master's and starting your PhD in San Diego. A beautiful city that one. Three years ago I met Chaya Czernowin at USD, she is a very nice person and, from the brief moment of our meeting, I could tell she's got a very accute instinct to understanding other people's work and see the good and not so good. I'm sure you know some of her work, it will be nice to have someone like her near. Anyway, congratulations again and all the best!
