Developing a Modular Artistic Practice
Changing our approaches for a more adaptable and accessible world of classical music
I hope you’ve been enjoying the newsletter so far! Here’s a video of a new piece of mine called Yesterday, Again from a recent concert with my good friends in Ensemble Urbain. We just finished tracking it in the studio so keep an eye out for an official recording!
Okay, so let’s pick up where we left off!
Classical music is changing, and there’s so many possibilities for the genre in the 21st century!
🔮That’s why I worked on putting together the Modular Artistic Practice for the Post-Classical Guitarist🔮
My goal was to unify the different stylistic and cultural worlds of the guitar to show its full range of capabilities in the 21st century. But it’s more than just the guitar! It’s about learning how to create a symbiotic relationship with the tool’s we have available to us today in order to grow the possibilities of the entire genre, and create a more accessible world of artistic exploration✨
What is a Modular Artistic Practice and how can I have one?
I choose to work in the genre of Post-Classical Music, and it was this practice that inspired my concepts of Modularity and Time-Capsule Music
The idea of modularity is essentially to be adaptable and multi-faceted in our approaches. By doing this, we not only find our own individuality as musicians, but grow our capabilities as well! With this in mind, lets dive into the skill-set of the Post-Classical guitarist.
Leaning into the deep-rooted history of guitarists composing their own music. This inevitably leads to the discovery of new possibilities!
The ability to improvise in both solo and group settings. Additionally, while we understand improvisation in harmonic, melodic, timbral, and rhythmic contexts, the post-classical guitarist views improvisation as a sonic exploration that can be equally manipulated in the world of effect boxes.
To be adaptable and modular in the practice of technology as compositional, interpretive, and improvisational tools.
Attain self-sufficiency in using their chosen set-up. This includes setting up and tearing down in a timely manner, properly testing levels and blending parameters, troubleshooting technological difficulties, and more.
Configure and troubleshoot the basic MIDI and audio capabilities in a digital audio workstation
Produce vocal/instrumental/electronic arrangements using music production software
Distribute their music to streaming platforms
Understand and use basic music technology terminology, and music production techniques
By doing this, you can start to unlock your true artistic potential, and become a multi-talented performer capable of existing in so many musical environments!
My own musical background is quite varied, from Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Ambient, and Free-Improv — but at some point, I fell in love with classical music! My whole goal with developing a Modular Artistic Practice was to bring together my love for these genres to find ways to evolve the perspectives in which we approach the guitar.
So what did this look like?
This involved augmenting my classical guitar, performing on electric guitars and extended range guitars like my 8 string Abasi, using different forms of modern tech, and a lot more!
By doing this, I quickly realized that you cannot separate the guitar from its cultural and historical lineage — inherently tied to oral traditions, improvisation, composition, instrument augmentation, and sonic explorations, across genres! This is where Time-Capsule Music was born; out of a curiosity to explore how these traditions can be viewed through a 21st century perspective!
What really hit the idea home for me was something that we’ll be covering in the next newsletter — it really changed the way I approach my instrument, and I’m stoked to dive into it here next week!