Minimalism for Modular #2: Ann Southam's "Rivers"

[@purple-flowers]

I have been trying to learn modular music for about a year now. A lot of the content online is patch/module demos, or just absolute basic concepts. It has been a struggle to get over the plateau of knowing all of the basic info to practical and creative ways I can apply it to create original compositions rather than just recreating someone else's patch. These videos actually teaching music theory for modular music specifically have really helped my own artistic practice and start to break out of this plateau i have found myself in.

[@electrummodularmusic]

I'm so glad to hear that the videos have been useful for you. Enjoy your modular journey!

[@ondraJams]

As being already said: Your series “Minimalism forModular” is outstanding!! 👍 Such a brilliant piece of art / documentary. You make us hungry for more and more 😊 bravo and please 🙏 keep going. I love it ❤

[@ondraJams]

Thank you for making me a trip to our Library / Archive in Prague to get know more!! I love it and want to discover more

[@electrummodularmusic]

This is really encouraging to hear - thanks!!

[@domenicodiano3589]

Your series "Minimalism for Modular" is fantastic.

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks Domenico, that's great to hear!

[@symmetrizer]

This is so beautiful. I could listen to this for hours and hours

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks so much for listening!

[@Hessencemusic]

where simplicity meets creativity... The minimalistic modular setup is just mesmerizing... and the way the piano weaves through it all... it's hypnotic... You can feel the space and the silence... every note carefully placed... letting your mind drift... It's not just music... it's an experience... something truly unique and special... I could listen to this for hours... and still discover new layers... It's like a journey... and I'm totally lost in it...

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks Hessence, my friend - really appreciate your kind words! And I'm looking forward to your next video!

[@jherekco]

I love this series, so well done, more please!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks so much. Will try to keep them coming!

[@chrisnewman9693]

this series is so informative and a joy to listen to - thank you!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks so much, Chris!!

[@kilo_llama]

Beautifully executed and beautifully explained. I learned a lot watching this. Thank you!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@mmmattodoteth7922]

Terrific as always, love the mini doc and piece combo. Music sounds lovely.

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks - great to hear!

[@wyrdash]

this is really great. thanks for sharing this piece, and your execution of it with me.

[@electrummodularmusic]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@connerlabs]

I really enjoyed this, thanks for explaining the music theory behind it too!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks for watching!!

[@bexiexz]

this is perfection!

[@electrummodularmusic]

wow, thanks!

[@bexiexz]

@@electrummodularmusic :)

[@conradclipper]

Said it before and I’ll say it again: superb video

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks mate!

[@TomChurchill]

Fantastic stuff - loving this series! This is really beautiful.

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks Tom, much appreciated!!

[@marcsouciepiano7772]

Excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks for watching, marc!

[@johanwk]

Impressive and super inspiring.

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks so much, Johan!

[@JohnLRice]

Lovely video and music! 👌👌

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks John! 🙏🙏🙏

[@c.augustin]

"… who should be household name like Steve Reich, Philipp Glass, and Terry Riley." I first thought that these three are indeed household names - than it dawned to me that you mean Ann Southam (and the many more unknown minimalist composers). As a non-native Speaker, this was a bit hard to parse. But yes, the short piece from Ann sounded quite intriguing. I love this intro to give context! Edit: The third set it is for me!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks, glad you like it - and interesting to hear you preferred the third set! I've edited that sentence so the meaning is clearer - cheers!

[@c.augustin]

@@electrummodularmusic Now the sentence is no longer a riddle to me … 😁

[@stevensenger]

Really cool!!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks Steven!

[@theproblembelief7549]

Hi! This is great, and advanced use of Pam's too. One question though - where does the piano sound originate from - is it a sample? Overall very clever use of your modules, I will certainly watch this again to figure out how you use them all.

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks! Yes, it's a multisampled felt piano which comes with the Disting EX.

[@Scott-eg6wm]

This is the most interesting modular content I've encountered. Keep it up. It looks like Disting Ex has the samples. What kind of library are you using for this? Inspired me to study my bitbox micro to finally use for something other than drums. Is Pam sending gates of different 'Level' to determine sample played? Or is each gate specific to note/sample being triggered?

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks, Scott! Yes, Disting EX is playing the multisamples, which are LABS soft piano. Separate CV, though, for trigger and for pitch (Disting allows up to three pairs of inputs per voice, ie. "pitch + gate" for each voice; but there are also other input options).

[@michaelsmith5643]

Oh my, I can’t believe there is another synth head, who is into minimalism, and has played Ann Southam on the piano.! You know about John Adam’s early minimalism like China Gatea and Phrygian Gates? Im wondering if I could somehow get that music into my Nerdseq. By the way, I tried doing Reich’s Piano Phase using Pamela’s workout for the timing and Nerdseq to play the notes but I ran into a bug on the Nerdseq so couldn’t finish it. I’m going to have to bug the creator of the Nerdseq to release the bug fix he created to address the problem so I can try again.

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks Michael, great to hear from a fellow modular minimalist! Nerdseq looks like a really interesting sequencer for this kind of music. Good luck getting the bug fix!

[@kaiserclicker8479]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@electrummodularmusic]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@RP-mp4ow]

Whoa! Is that sample being played a stock disting sound? Which algorithm? I need to poke around more with the Disting!

[@electrummodularmusic]

Yes, this sample comes pre-loaded on Disting EX. You can access it on the SD Multisample algo.

[@RP-mp4ow]

@@electrummodularmusic you're the best! Thank you so much! BTW, I failed to mention it but this is a great video! very inspirational!

[@kaszaniarz]

all cool, but why show modular with... piano samples?

[@electrummodularmusic]

Thanks, that’s a great question. I use a variety of sound sources in my studio: analog (Dixie, Banshee, etc), FM/wavetable/granular (Plaits etc), and, as you heard here, instrument samples. I’ve been faavoring samples in this “minimalism” series, because the focus is on sequencing. When my attention - and modules - are preoccupied up with complex pitch sequencing, samples can keep things simple (no envelopes, VCAs, or filters needed!). Sample players also allow us to generate highly complex timbres that would otherwise take a huge number of modules. Disting’s sample player further allows you to build up to 6 or 8 voices that all sound identical - thus giving the impression of a single, polyphonic instrument. The reason I’ve been selecting mainly piano samples is that this is the instrument used by many of the minimalist composers covered in this series (and because I can only barely play them on a real piano!). But also because the piano has certain psychoacoustic properties. It has a much wider range, both in terms of timbre and pitch, than many other instruments. And, as a result of cultural associations, it arguably evokes a wider range of emotions. Psychologists have explored the unconscious effects of piano sounds on listeners. And finally, I’m interested in the possibilities of altering piano samples via modular effects: delay, reverb, flanging, granular processing, and - in my next video - string resonators and detuning.

[@gilberth_]

I don't know what to write...

[@electrummodularmusic]

I know the feeling!

[@jasoneskridge6453]

wayminnit?!# those piano sounds are coming from DistingEX??? as samples or WTH is going on here?

[@electrummodularmusic]

Yes, I forgot to mention that! They are the Soft Piano samples, from Spitfire LABS. They come pre-loaded on the Disting EX, and can also be downloaded for free from the Spitfire website.