The Music of Harry Partch

1968 San Diego KPBS-TV documentary called The Music of Harry Partch. Partch shows off his instruments and gives a performance of Daphne of the Dunes conducted by Thomas Nee.

"Lack of respect for himself broadens the artist's field of vision..."

Lack of respect for himself broadens the artist's field of vision without completely demagnetizing his compass. It is an undeniable fact that if he questions all his own procedures, he becomes obsessed by the characteristics most foreign to himself, the most difficult to acquire - even the most atrophied."

-Pierre Boulez, Orientations

Moon Marble

Here's a peek at one of the Sifteo games I've been writing music and making sounds for!

Composer Nico Muhly on NES Music

For me, living in the country, playing a video game was sort of like music minus one: The actions of my hands informed, in a strange way, the things I heard. Collect a coin, and a delighted glockenspiel sounds. Move from navigating a level above ground to one below ground, and the eager French chromaticism of the score changes to a spare, beat-driven minimal texture. Hit a star, and suddenly the score does a metric modulation. All of these things come to bear in a later musical education; I'm positive I understand how augmented chords change an emotional texture because of Nintendo music."

-Nico Muhly, Read his full blog post 

I posted my updated reel today, it represents a pretty wide spectrum of what I've been writing for lately, from bizarro animation to schmaltzy Hollywood celebs. Have a look:

Daniel Merrill: Reel 2010 from Daniel Merrill on Vimeo.

The NYU Orchestra is playing a piece I wrote for an animated film by Ann Orin on March 8th at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at 8pm. The concert features work by NYU composers and filmmakers.

Check it out!

Top Cop is now on iTunes!
Listen and download here!
PS. Anyone want to play/set up a show (house or otherwise)? 'Cause I sure do!