Music

96 Tears

Composed by: Phil Kline (b.1953)

Originally for electric guitar octet, Phil Kline's imitation of 17th Century viol consort music produces long tones and unexpected harmonies, slowly developing and then slowly unravelling over... listen »

Armour Square Vespers & Ill Tempered Lancaran

Composed by: Nathaniel Braddock (b.1971)

These two pieces reference, directly and indirectly, traditional Indonesian music. The prelude, "Armour Square Vespers," is wash of microtonal chords drawn from the Javanese pelog tuning.... listen »

Domino Figures

Composed by: Wayne Siegel (b.1953)

Written for 10-100 classical guitars, Wayne Siegel's "Domino Figures" is a transcendent experience unlike no other. With a sound similar to that of a buzzing swarm of bees, overtones... listen »

East L.A. Phase

Composed by: Wayne Siegel (b.1953)

In Wayne Siegel's "East L.A. Phase," the four classical guitar parts are expanded to eight electric guitars. Where the original is an interwoven nylon tapestry, the ostinato lines on... listen »

Electric Counterpoint

Composed by: Steve Reich (b.1936)
Adapted by: Felix Salazar

Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint is one of the foremost pieces written for electric guitar ensemble. Although the original requires thirteen parts (11 guitars and 2 basses), this adapta... read more »

G-String Fetish

Composed by: Peter Yates (b.1953)

It's all in the title. "G-string Fetish" is a spasmodic frenzy of notes that slowly unravels into the guitar's open G-string. The piece employ aleatoric techniques, using ran... listen »

Gending

Composed by: Lou Harrison (1917-2003)
Adapted by: Felix Salazar

“Gending” is taken from the suite Varied Trio for violin, piano, and percussion (1987). It is the product of Harrison’s impassioned study of Javanese compositional form. While he... read more »

Imagined Overtures

Composed by: Frank J. Oteri (b.1964)

We add a drummer to perform Oteri's microtonal rock suite. The original is for two guitars, bass, and drums. With the added power of the octet, we are able to bring a new heaviness to these thr... listen »

Implosion

Composed by: Mantle Hood (1918-2005)
Adapted by: Felix Salazar

Mantle Hood was a renowned ethnomusicologist who studied most of the great musical traditions of the world. Before turning his life's work to pioneering ethnomusicology, Hood studied compositio... read more »

Ladrang Siyem

Composed by: Traditional Javanese
Adapted by: Ben Harbert

In a feat of musical globe-trotting, "Ladrang Siyem" is a 1929 adaptation of a Western-influenced Thai tune – "Sanrasoen Phra Barami" – that has been reclaimed on el... read more »