These Things

These Things from Benjamin Popp on Vimeo.

Film: Ben Popp, Sound Collage: Jeffrey Von Ragan

SoundTable @ Grand Detour Jan 2nd.2011 (Captain Beefheart/Frank Zappa)

SoundTable is a collective group of sound artists/musicians who meet monthly to discuss/demonstrate many topics pertaining to music/sound/noise- with an emphasis on the experimental. A place to explore interactively, stimulate creativity, make connections, foster collaborations in a laid back atmosphere.

New discussion leaders and topics every month. (If you would like to lead please email me: jvonragan@gmail.com

SoundTable meets the 1st Sunday of every month at 7pm.
Next discussion Jan. 2nd (Captain Beefheart/Frank Zappa!)

This discussion will pay homage to two giants of free thinking pioneers of creative music. Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart) passed away Dec. 17 of multiple sclerosis and Zappa would have been 70 this year. From early Doo-Wop to the pivotal "Trout Mask Replica" produced by Zappa, to Bongo Furry, we will follow the convoluted paths of these two original thinkers.

Grand Detour
Located at: 215 SE Morrison ; Suite 2020; Portland, OR

R.I.P. Captain, Heaven has their hands full! Don Van Vliet passed away December 17, 2010

Great SoundTable Presentation by Dustin Zemel, Robby Kraft

We're happy to say the presentation on minimalism by Dustin Zemel & Robby Kraft on Dec. 5th at Grand Detour was a success.

The evening began with Dustin performing a piece by Terry Riley titled "Pendulum music". 3 speakers were placed on their back with the speakers pointing upward towards the ceiling. Above the speakers hung 3 microphones, six inches above the speakers. On the count of three the mics were released to swing over the amps, creating bird-like and low tone feedback.

Discussions included the impedance behind the creation of minimalism, spearheaded by Terry Riley, Steve Riech and Lamount Young. Those composers felt that the existing formulas utilized by previous composers left listeners without a PhD in theory out in the cold. They wanted to strip it down, thus... minimalism.

Also discussed was the visual equivalent of minimalism in the form of video art using repetition and shifting of time through editing.

The evening rapped up with Robby Kraft first showing his "glass marimba". Coils were placed under a section of the glass plates that tapped the plates creating mechanical glass marimba music. Robby lead a hand clap-minimalist performance by those attending, showed his use of Philip Glass's compositions interpreted through his own computer programming. Finally he presented another computer program which had rotating geometric shapes that created a repetitive 'randomness' through out a time-line.

Robby Kraft's "Glass Marimba"

SoundTable @ Grand Detour- Dec. 5th

SoundTable is a collective group of sound artists/musicians who meet monthly to discuss/demonstrate anything and everything pertaining to music/sound/noise- with an emphasis on the experimental.

A place to expore interactively, stimulate creativity, make connections, foster collaborations in a laid back way.

New discussion leaders and topics every month.

Next talk on minimalism by Robby Kraft- Dec. 5th 7-9pm

"This subject matter is reducing Philip Glass' music into simple forms, or, deconstructing Philip Glass' musical language. After this, program a computer to incorporates these shapes into a new musical language and compare this to Philip Glass. Review Philip Glass' influences and where he fits into the classical school. Finally, explore avenues Philip Glass did not utilize which our program has now made available."

@ Grand Detour
215 SE Morrison ; Suite 2020; Portland, OR

http://www.grand-detour.org/

PDXperimental Sound Links

Ambient experimental duo (Trumpet & Computer)
"We have been the musical backdrop for art houses, outdoor farm and mountain festivals, rock halls, intimate clubs, creative rebirths, beaches, forests, farmers' markets, plush lounges and eclectic coffeehouses. Our sound offers a little something for everyone and we cater to all ages when reaching out to whomever might gift us the platform to speak to the people in letting them be the judge of whether or not we have something worth sharing."
Deklun and Pace
http://www.sonicbids.com/deklunpace
----------------------------------------

Live improvisational soundscapes under the name, East Forest (Trevor Oswalt). Currently I release a new live track every week via a podcast called "Music Meditations." Here's the link:
http://www.eastforest.org/?page_id=519
--------------------------------------------

Toby Nelson
Artist: Segment (my solo act)Title: Lethargy Link:
http://toby-nelson.com/mp3/Lethargy.mp3


Artist: Bit Stream (noise/electronic duo I am half of)
Title: Time Exponential- Link:
http://toby-nelson.com/mp3/BitStream-TimeExponential.mp3

Looking for Submissions!

Send us a link to your soundz, we'd love to hear your world!
experimental/out there/ sound collages and such...

Send to:
jvonragan@gmail.com

Spirals Dance Echos

Spirals Dance Echoes from Benjamin Popp on Vimeo.

Cut-out annimation by B.Popp, Sound Design by Jeffrey Von Ragan 2010

Touchez-Pas!

Touchez-Pas! from Benjamin Popp on Vimeo.

B. Popp-Vocals, Jeffrey Von Ragan-Drums

Talk about Experimental-Strange Instruments 11.7.2010 @ Grand Detour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0uCeiZZI8
(SoundTable animation using found & homemade instruments for sound design).

We're enthused to announce the first SoundTable on Nov. 7th was well received! Thank you to all who contributed their time and thoughts in the demonstrations/discussion on unique & unusual instruments.

The night kicked off with a demonstration by Jeffrey Von Ragan. He exhibited how he created a sound track for an animation by Ben Popp. The homemade/found instruments utilized included: A nut necklace, raisin box whistle, coffee can cuica, and a Victorian Oscillator speaker (See link above).

People in attendance talked about making instruments with glass (glass marimba), and a unique instrument called a Daxophone (a wooden bowed instrument). See link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RmKTASJufc .

Also demonstrated was the use of an old Digital 8 camera set on frame mode that was clicked every 3 seconds creating a fractured, stuttering visual and audio of an experimental band. It was strange, beautiful and compelling.

An important resource for luthieres and anyone interested in unusual, experimental intruments is Bart Hopkin's webstite:
http://www.windworld.com/
(unique instrument building- books, tools, Etc...)

Please stay posted for more SoundTable to come.

Next talk- minimalism!

Sound Table Nov 7th. @ Grand Detour

Keep posted for upcoming Sound Table discussions to be held monthly at Grand Detour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0uCeiZZI8

Strange Sounds @ Grand Detour
WHATS THAT CRAZY SOUND?

After the substantial success of its Summer Screening Series, Grand Detour Experiments in New Media is continuing the momentum with The Sound Table, a monthly discussion group around issues and forms of experimental sound. Jeffrey Von Ragan, a local sound, film, and video artist as well as a Summer Screening Series participant, will lead the Sound Table.

This first meeting will focus on the unintended use of a musical or non-musical device; creating noise/music on a device or component in which the resulting outcome was not originally intended. This could be considered a form of progress, manipulation or evolution. This creates a larger vocabulary in the process; in essence, extending “syllables” to create a new language. Albert Ayler and John Zorn achieved this with the extremes of their saxophone playing, as did Raymond Scott in his exploration of electronics. Noise and sound can be made out of unconventional instruments as well. One major and obvious device is the art of DJing and scratching records on a turntable. Electronic hacking, circuit-bending and the use of household items such as PVC Pipe, kitchen utensils, balloons, creaking chairs, etc. will also be explored. And of course, one can’t forget the importance of field recordings, samples and the infinite possibility of their manipulation in the post-production phase. This discussion is an invitation for anyone interested in the “out there” creation of sound and music. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring homemade instruments or recordings of unusual instruments or devices.

7pm-9pm
Sunday Nov. 7th

Coming December:
Grand Detour founder, Dustin Zemel, will give a presentation on Minimalism... Keep posted for more info to come!

Check out: http://grand-detour.org

Or email for info & upcoming dates:
jvonragan@gmail.com

Grand Detour
215 SE Morrison
Suite 2020, PDX

Early Films by Von Ragan @ Grand Detour

Grey Matter Curves: Early Films by Jeffrey Von Ragan 1993-2006
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Grand Detour Experiments in New Media
Street: 215 SE Morrison, Suite 2020
City/Town: Portland, OR


Description
Jeffrey Von Ragan is a writer, musician, artist and filmmaker. His first film “Forbidden Fruit” aired on CBS, New Music Now, in 1993. The same year he was featured in Film Threat Magazine. He is the recipient of the James Broughton Film Award from San Francisco Art Institute. Jeffrey is the founder of the local film showcase “Group Projection” in Minneapolis and San Francisco. His films are known for their engaging soundtracks and evocative, memory-laden imagery. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

The "Three Grey-Matter Curves Trilogy"

Forbidden Fruit:
Like most emerging filmmakers dealing with bad taste, I thought it might be shocking... But hoped beautiful at the same time. Themes: Water/Grapefruit/Phallus...
B&W/S8
Sound: Jeremy Ragan & JVR
1993

Pill-Aged Mind:
A misunderstood young boy (Jimmy) is confronted with visions that Dr. Harnonious wishes to contain. Jimmy becomes a scientist, finds the equation to God, and marries a Mermaid...
B&W/Color/16mm
Sound by: Clayton Kennedy & JVR
1997

Rape of the Attic:
A short ditty about vanity. B&W/Color/S8/16mm
Sound by: Nathan Verrill & JVR
1999

BiHuvud (not a part of the trilogy)
Shot in Coney Island during a blizzard. Stark landscape, woman in solitude...
Color/B&W/miniDV/S8
Sound by: JVR

DEVOUR from Benjamin Popp on Vimeo.

mothlights

'mothlights' landed its first show Feb. 5th @ Rocco's Bar in downtown PDX, like a 747 hit by lightning, it was also mothlights last gig... They lived like a ferocious nat buzzing their short lived ditty with abandon.
The members were:
Ben P. Bass
Brian Y. GTR
Jonanthan E. GTR
JVR. DRMS/VOX

To hear mothlights visit: www.myspace.com/bandofmothlights