music

[spacebug]

My awesome former coworker Chris O. called me last night saying he'd wheedled tickets for Springboard folks to see an hour long presentation by Bobby McFerrin at McNally Smith today. Neat! So, my director and I took lunch early and went up into downtown to see him. The last time I saw Bobby McFerrin, it was as the conductor of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra at the UofM; he conducted two symphonies and did a solo vocal set in between, a retelling of the Wizard of Oz, which he ended by throwing a glass of water on himself and "melting". It was fantastic. It was as much a theatre piece as a musical one. I didn't realize until about halfway through one of the symphonies (Beethoven's 3rd, I think), that he was conducting without a score. I know pretty little about conducting, I only took one class on it and it's not my thing, but I know enough to know that that's pretty badass. He's a really amazing musician. I wouldn't hesitate to call him a genius. And from what I can tell, he's an amazing person as well.

I didn't quite know what the event was going to be, as going was such a last minute thing, but it turned out to be very informal. He'd sing a little bit, and then have a Q and A session, and often questions would lead into musical examples and another little spate of performance and then back into questions. It was really really great, very inspirational right before my show next weekend too. His ideas and approach to performance and especially improvisation resonate with me a lot. I don't begrudge him any of his popular success, but I doubt that a lot of people who know Don't Worry, Be Happy know about the other work he's done, his experience with all these other kinds of genres of music or as an orchestral conductor, or the thoughtful development of his completely distinctive singing style. His thoughts on improvisation spoke to me the most because it's inherent in what I do, but the thoughts on how he developed his style, how he uses a microphone and room tone as instruments in and of themselves, how he uses his hands and chest and breath as percussion, how he developed his technique to imply incredibly complex harmonies with just solo voice... all super interesting.

Comments

[chebutykin.livejournal.com]

ENVY!

[star5.livejournal.com]

neat!

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

That's really awesome. I saw him conduct the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra once, and he did a bit of solo vocal stuff too, and at a different point, had the whole audience singing for him. Well, really it was more like he was playing the audience like a musical instrument. He's so very amazing.

[pied-piper70.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind, I might pick your brain later about his Q & A...I've been thinking about my own performance issues and that sounds like it was VERY interesting...

I am sooooo jealous...I've been a fan of his BEFORE he got big...

[hexagonalcarbon.livejournal.com]

That sounds interesting. Is there any chance that, in the future, you could talk more about the thinking behind your music. I love listening to the commentary tracks on movies.

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

Interesting, thanks for asking, I suppose I could do that (I love commentary tracks on movies, too.) Other than just not thinking about it, I guess I haven't done that 'cause it seems so self-important, especially when it's solo stuff. It might be easier in the context of specific questions or an interview or something like that.

[abiku.livejournal.com]

That is awesome that you got to go to that! I'm really jealous. I've been a fan of his for a while and love the work he's done with Yo-Yo Ma.

I wish I could be in town for your next performance. I keep missing them due to travel or work stuff, it seems. Boo. :(

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

He told some stories about Yo-Yo Ma traveling and playing music in Botswana: Apparently a translator was explaining who Yo-Yo Ma was and that he was going to play at a specific place in the village at a specific time if the villagers wanted to go see him play. They didn't understand why they'd need to wait, and go somewhere else in order to hear music, because they were so used to just singing or making music wherever/whenever they wanted.

My next show is actually a bit out of town in Rochester, but I have two other performances coming up in February- one at the Bedlam for the Spark Festival on the 18th and one as part of a Women's Poetry Slam on the 25th. So, if you're into some electronic music on a Wednesday night...

[bryiarrose.livejournal.com]

a way late post from one who's just barely getting back in the habit of reading the internets...

i was lucky enough to have him as a conductor the year i lived in baltimore and was singing with the baltimore symphony orchestra chorus. i have to second your genius comment... i don't think any one else can come close to what he is capable of. hearing him sing every voice part, and just generally what he was able to do with bach, was unreal. one of the best conductors i've ever sung under.