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Generations String Quartet / Santorini

by Frank Singer

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tompastore
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Peter Avery
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chelabop
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tutankhamen
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/
1.
Generations Movement 1 09:04
2.
Generations Movement 2 09:12
3.
Generations Movement 3 08:14
4.
Generations Movement 4 10:28
5.
Generations Movement 5 12:10
6.
Silent Spacer 00:09
7.
Santorini Movement 1 04:28

credits

released January 1, 1996

Generations String Quartet is composer Frank Singer's first classical release. Generations was commissioned by Gannon University for Erie, Pennsylvania's 1995 BiCentennial Celebration. The work features the traditional 2 violins and cello, but exchanges the viola for jazz-style electric guitar.

The original composition is in five movements. The first movement, which features the second violin, is reminiscent of the music of medieval times. The second movement, which features the cello, is classical in structure. The third movement, which features the first violin, is romantic in tone. The fourth movement, which features the electric guitar, is in the 20th century style. Each movement borrows from and builds upon the other movements. The fifth and final movement weaves together movements one through four.

Generations String Quartet, 5 movements of unified yet diverse music, including a jazz-style electric guitar solo.

Movement 1 - Violin 2 theme, Violin 1 counter-theme
Movement 2 - Cello theme, Electric Guitar counter-theme
Movement 3 - Violin 1 theme, Violin 2 counter-theme
Movement 4 - Electric Guitar theme, Cello counter-theme
Movement 5 - All themes stated, combined and developed

Rita Verdecchia V1
Vali Phillips V2
Frank Singer G
Jean Verdecchia C

The composer gratefully acknowledges Dr. Cherie Haeger of Gannon University for all of her assistance. Thanks also to Gannon University, Melanie Kuebel and the Gannon University Historical Museum, Cycling Troll Recording, Laurie and Tom Hitt, Mike Ohm, Tony Stefanelli, Joe and Paula Dorris and family, Mary Connerty, and to the people of Erie, PA for their unending local support.

Recorded Saturday, April 22, 1995
Schuster Theatre in Scottino Hall
Gannon University, Erie, PA

Original Release:
NKP 1996gen

*************

Santorini was written over a 5-year period, each movement written in time signatures in which the time divisions progress from from 35 to 39. The rhythmic sub-groupings of each movement are indicated in the beaming. The melodic and harmonic content are generated from a heptatonic scale: D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C#, with primary focus on a D major or G minor tonality within each movement.

The audio for the first three movements is from a recording made by Frank Singer in 1994 at Cycling Troll Studios in Fairview, PA. From the composer/performer:
"In my guitar studies I was exposed very early to Classical Music, as well as Chet Atkins-style fingerpicking and basic single-note pick technique. I have always played a little Classical for enjoyment, but have focused my primary work as a guitarist in Jazz and American Music, playing pick-and-finger style and concentrating on improvisation. I worked on the first three movements in preparation for the recording in 1994, honing my right-hand technique as best I could. I hope it is pleasing to listen to; at the very least it gives the proper tempo and volume for the movements."

The purpose here is to provide a sonic representation of the music to assess as a listener, a composer, or a potential performer of the music.

In keeping with that same idea of a sonic representation, the last two movements are presented in a sequence created from the score of the notation. This was done in an iPad program called Notion which allows entry from a guitar grid or a piano grid, and plays back the notation extremely well. This also means that the performance lacks any subtle changes of tempo, dynamics and phrasing that a human player will add, and in some ways the performance is too "perfect". It does give a very useful reference for the tempo, sound and effect created by the music.

In addition to anyone's listening enjoyment, this is presented as music that may be included in compositional studies with Frank Singer, and as music to be performed, individually or as the five movement suite.

*******************

About the Composer:

Frank Singer received his Bachelor's degree in Composition from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 1980. Frank received the Richard Levy Award in Recognition of Outstanding Musicianship for Contemporary Composition from the college in the same year. After attending post-graduation studies with private instructor Charlie Banacos until 1982 Frank began performing his original music in the Boston area, primarily with Cat's A Bear.

After moving to Erie, PA in 1989, other compositional opportunities arose, adding to the ongoing and relocated Cat's A Bear. In 1994 Frank joined One World Tribe, contributing a number of compositions, both individual and in collaboration. The title track of OWT's first CD Unity And Diversity earned the Finalist, World Music Category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 1999.

In 1995 Frank was commissioned by Gannon University to create music in celebration of Erie's Bicentennial. The result was Generations, a five movement string quartet for two violins, violin cello, and electric guitar. The first four movements focus on stylings from successive musical eras, with the fifth tying all the movements together in an extended finale.

Frank continues to compose for these groups, write Classical music, and is continuously trying to organize, catalog and present well over 400 compositions. You can find out more about Frank at www.franksinger.com. Frank teaches online with Skype, FaceTime and Zoom. Composition students are welcome. Instrumental studies include Guitar, Piano, Drums, Electric Bass, Voice, Sax and Theory.

You can email Frank at frank@franksinger.com

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Cat's A Bear Erie, Pennsylvania

Joe Dorris and Frank Singer joined forces in 1982 to create the original contemporary Jazz presented in this collection. Many amazing musicians have contributed to this 40+ year project, adding their voices to the fun while accepting the challenge of performing this high-level music. As we continue to make more, we hope you have as much fun listening as we did playing. Thank you for your support! ... more

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