Podcast1024: Sandspice by Jonathan Szanto

Of the piece SandSpice, Jon writes:

"Part of the fun of microtonality right now is the proliferation of tools, at least if one works in the virtual world. "Sandspice" is a little improvisation I did with a recent softsynth that utilizes samples of real-world instruments, combined with the ability to use non-12 tunings. In this case it is the sound of the oud, an Arabic lute (an tuned in one of the traditional Arabic modes), as well as a drone. It is paired with my love of field recordings, so the imaginary picture is an oud player sitting at the water's edge, riffing to the accompaniment of a bagpipe drone. As if that were possible."

Jon Szanto worked with Harry Partch during the latter part of his life. His primary instrument was the Boo, the bamboo marimba, but he also played the Mbira Bass Dyad and Ektara. He now maintains the excellent collection of material on Harry Partch, Corporeal Meadows. There you can find samples of the Partch instruments, pictures, scores, and marvelous memorabilia.

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