Zachary James Watkins
Country Western
Country Western is the result of Just Intonation, electronic sound processing, relationships, and a hybrid score (consisting of prose, conducting, time-proportionate notation, and improvisation), all of which have the theme of resonance as a meditation.
I tune each of the 27 strings in my ensemble to a separate partial derived from the overtone series of the equal tempered pitch D (73.41625 Hz). I create these tunings because I wish to explore new harmonic territory, periodicity, composite waveforms, resonance, and texture. I explore the harmonic series, live computer processing, site-specific resonant spaces, and the spatial diffusion of sound sources to achieve rich, saturated environments. Resonance also describes my relationship with the ensemble of musicians and artists.
Country Western is written for the musicians on this recording and draws heavily on my knowledge of their individual styles, sensitivities, strengths, and weaknesses. Having a personal relationship with each of these musicians affects the music. It is critical that the musician’s voice be allowed to exist within my works, creating a multifaceted story with many unique characters. This is obtained by asking each performer to improvise (mostly controlled) at certain points throughout Country Western. I accompany the ensemble by conducting and improvising live signal processing.
I want to thank my collaborators: Shayna Dunkelman (Percussion); Kanoko Nishi (Koto); Noah Phillips (Prepared Guitar); Emily Packard (Violin); Theresa Wong (Cello); Aram Shelton (Bass Clarinet/Soprano Saxophone); Andy Strain (Trombone); Dennis Somera (Voice/Poetry); Luke Seldon (SuperCollider Programming); The Meridian Gallery Margaretha Haughwout, for inspiration and poetry; The Norman Conquest (Engineering/Mixing); Myles Boisen (Mastering); and Duane Pitre, for curating this exciting compilation!
Produced by Zachary James Watkins
Recorded by The Norman Conquest, August 30, 2008
Mixed by The Norman Conquest & Zachary James Watkins
Mastered by Myles Boisen at Headless Buddha Mastering Lab
Country Western was funded in part by the Composer Assistance Program of the American Music Center and by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Country Western premiered at Meridian Gallery in San Francisco, CA on April 9, 2008
© 2009 ASCAP