"April [1837] - Return from the Races"
George Cruikshank - from The Comic Almanack an Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humorous Poetry, Quips and Oddities, First Series, 1835-1843
Texts
Recorded
January 18, 2025
Yankee Doodle - Old Thresher's Fife and Drum Band [from The Art of Field Recording, Volume 1]
preserving the roots of a meme
Mona - Bruce Springsteen [collected from Neal Kosály-Meyer's Bo & The Beat]
making with the jungle sounds
to authenticate
what?
primitivist masculinity?
bar bragging
BAB KEE 830420 - Benjamin Boretz, Keith Eisenbrey [April 20, 1983]
having been somewhat embarrassed
by what seemed
my over effusive
piano improvisations
in prior sessions
I decided
I would
limit my activity
to the occasional tapping together
of two rocks
Ben puttered on some small percussion
my impression
after listening back with Ben
immediately afterward
which was part
of the idea
of doing sessions
was
that
I liked the result
but
that
it had been too
easy
salutary
to be aware of ones needs
for intellectual
or
otherwise
personal engagement
so that
they might be
addressed
directly
unacknowledged needs
can fester
but
what is it a need for?
what lacks it?
the music
of what two rocks
tapping together
is capable
is not without its subtleties
but
might
still
be
an inadequate music
for the person involved
in that activity
to be maximally
expressive unto themself
that is
is
the activity capable
of expressing
the full import
of what
one needs to express
(impart)
(communicate)
(pass along)
(share)
(contribute)
but also
I was engaged
quite deliberately
in the activity
of trying
to break some old habits
of thinking and doing
which habits
were feeling narrow
and confining
then
so
this session served
as a kind of fast
or ascetic
exercise
a meditation
without some of
that woo woo
vibe
but
back to those subtleties
what can they share
I am here
and I hear
you are here
and also hear
(a
formulation
for a primitive musical interaction?)
now
I don't recall
who finally started playing the piano
toward the end
possibly me
but that piano playing
kept
within the spirit of the session
just a few plunks
as though
imitating an mbira
but
it sounds more like Ben's keyboard touch
than mine
so
I think
in the end
it must have
been Ben
all that being said
this is still quite an enjoyable session
to
listen back to
I still like it
Freezebomb - U-Men
an alternation
between a song
and an alternation figure
the song
part is ordinary
in comparison
with the alternation
bit
which is rock solid
Banned Rehearsal 335 - John E, Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Aaron Keyt [July 23, 1993]
jumping into a fully developed cacophony
to grasp it
the ear
separates it
into distinct sounds
without
necessarily
including
an immediate count
of such distinct sounds
at play
thus
it immediately becomes
an image
of
a cacophony
of unquantified individuals
we find friends
within the sound crowd
faces
are identified
the crowd
familiarizes itself
to its own behaviors
we
learn ourselves
interactionally
squeeze box
twinkle little star
the guitar strings
carry on
with the twinkle tune
it's a k'tar daddy
a guitar with catarrh
tick tock
technological parity
with the 1930s
the Prussians play in tune
too
John the fish washer
a limerick was once well begun
it
tripped winningly off of the tongue
but we added some salt
and it
ground to a halt
and was never convinced to be done
twinkle inkle
tender
laidback
big gûtar
milk in a tiny
bottle
less failed
than thought before
we didn't have the StingGer:
Reverb
Velveeta Underwear
Does have a bit of the #12 about it...
my bonnie
lies over the ocean
does deteriorate
a
landseascape
of resonant
single
[cordtones]
strung
among a conversation
the clarinet the clarinet:}
January 20, 2025
Ambaraba Ci Ci Co Co - Amy Denio - Die Knodel [from Tutto Bene]
delights
in ambaraba-ci-ci-co-colaturesquery
Banned Rehearsal 648 - Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Neal Kosály-Meyer [April 14, 2003]
drums and two electric guitars
loudness can be immobilizing
as can practiced actions
and
established cultural signifiers
stray thought
not particularly apropos of the session
one guitar
has melted
into a pool
on the floor
grooves are mistakes
to be repeated
pools
are better
than grooves
Fifteen - Taylor Swift [from Fearless]
report from the floor
of suburban dream teens
Banned Rehearsal 833 - Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Steven Kennedy, Aaron Keyt, Neal Kosály-Meyer [March 18, 2013]
determined
that narrative should not proceed
without recession
struggling forward
through thickets of doubt
and morasses of
backtracking
legend
in its circles
lingo
for gear
pieces
more like a footnote
modulated saw tooth wall of awesome
I haven't
even heard it
but I can't get it out of my head
somebody
heard it
from down the street
Knacks and Skills - Wally Shoup, Paul Kemmish, John Seman, Ollie Klomp [from Wally Shoup 2x4tet]
twin double basses
drums
and Wally
the shit
as in
the shit, this is
moments of clarity
bestowals of grace
Sinfonia 6 (clavichord) - Keith Eisenbrey - Keith Eisenbrey
this one
considers the lengths and counts
of articulated strings
of pitches
in contrasting time-rate experiences
Madrigals, Book IV: Sfogava con le stelle - Claudio Monteverdi - Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Rossana Bertini, Claudio Cavina, Giuseppe Maletto, Marcello Vargetto, Cristina Miatello
caligraphating a poem
(it's a poem
because it makes a big deal
about its words)
enunciates them
polyphonically
Geistliche Chor-Music, SWV 369-397: No. 6, Unser keiner lebet ihm selber, SWV 374 - Heinrich Schütz - Capella Augustana
such kindly voices
instruct our thoughts
with words
firm and
sure
Praeludium in G Major, BuxWV 147 - Dieterich Buxtehude - Simone Stella
clear some space
with a flourish
flatter the patrons
individually
and copiously
before we enter into the fuguework
of the solid
and the true
Gleichwie Der Regen Und Schnee Vom Himmel Fällt, BWV 18 (Appendix) - Johann Sebastian Bach - Amsterdam Baroque Choir, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman
a ground bass
contains multitudes of times
a sinfonia
with
ritornello
a chorale
presumably in four parts
as can be correctly done
Sonata in D Major, Kk. 258 - Domenico Scarlatti - Pieter-Jan Belder
a dance
along a flight of stairs
elegant and witty
all must
be arranged
just so
to get
just
the most joy
singularly focused
on what his parts
are doing
at all
moments
using coordinated dynamics
as a compositional tool
to articulate
the figures
the purpose of this music
is to be decorous
disturbance-free
the links in the chain
are attended with assiduity
Symphony in B-flat Major, Wq. 182 #2 - Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - English Baroque Orchestra, Trevor Pinnock
decorum here
is stern and business-like
triplicates stamped
despatchedly
the family defers to Papa
in all things
sudden uproar!
perhaps a kidgoat
got loose
in the formal
garden
must be set to right
at once!
Sonata in F Major, K. 332 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Lili Kraus
we are brought along
without willing
beguiled
by an innocent
face
into play
and adventure
the bass
falls away
into a tender heart
poured out
a pious passion
enter
the juggling jester
to amuse the nursery
Symphony in C Major, Hob. I/90 - Franz Joseph Haydn - Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, Ádám Fischer
1
let 'em wonder
what's going
then hit 'em
with the
material proper
the exit is hard to find
but kick 'em out the door
as soon as it appears
2
inner sanctum
life at its most civilized
3
out in society
life at its least
4
adventure
in the wide world
civilization
at its
liveliest
a whole other music follows
what fooled me
as to
be
the ending
a surprise coda
Mass in D Major, Op. 123 "Missa Solemnis" - Ludwig van Beethoven - Gächinger Kantorei, Helmut Rilling
each note
starts the piece over
as does
each entrance
each continuation
in a new direction
all things
lead
to the end
music
for those
who hear it
credos
are placards
held up
to God
and man
credo
in a story
told
as an incantation
ritualized
receipt
of grace
goodness
floats to us
from
above
(idea-painting)
metrical gossamer
incessance
there is no edge
to this Agnus Dei
as
there is no edge
to creation
prayer
battles
with battle glory
I got them
I'm the Atlas blues
Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15 #3 - Frédéric Chopin - Claudio Arrau
the meter
behind meter
stranger the deeper
Albumlätter, Op. 124 #10 "Walzer" - Robert Schumann - Florina Uhlig
a penchant
for patterns
of near repetition
Polonaise, Op. 21 - Alexander Scriabin - Dmitri Alexeev
soul of a patriot
an image
for the silver screen
to come
Preludes Book 2, #8 "Ondine" - Claude Debussy
tonalities
are abstracted
as pitch sets in time
Children's March "Over the Hills and Far Away" - Percy Grainger - Percy Grainger, Lotta Mills Hough [from Percy Grainger Plays Percy Grainger]
keeping it light
for sunny America
two pianos too many
Odeon - Ernesto Nazareth - Marcelo Bratke
a dance
over and over
Poor Boy - Gus Cannon [from Turn Me Loose White Man]
lifting ones troubles
Blue Interlude - Chocolate Dandies [from That Devilin' Tune]
into an aesthetically parsed activity
Tiger Rag - Jelly Roll Morton [from Turn Me Loose White Man]
ragtime rhythm
a mechancial image
Jeepers Creepers (with Benny Goodman) - Billie Holiday [from Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia]
golly gee
when you turn those heaters on
and other show-off singers
as announced
Accueil Amical - Darius Milhaud - François Choveaux
quick sketches
to keep in practice
a hand here
an ear there
here a chin
there a nose
a dancing youth
a puppy's
tail
Symphonie Concertante - Gail Kubik - Boston Modern Music Project, Gil Rose
1
a staged symphony
soloists duke it out
for the
spotlight
2
lines
with flavors of contours
3
back to vigorous
good morning
on Main Street
shopkeeper's paradise
January 22, 2025
Volare - Dean Martin [a Rescued Record]
invitation
to a tawdry paradise
with vinyl noise
for that
vintage mouth feel
Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan [from Biograph]
yes'n'
to which query
is yes'n'
the response?
would
no'n'
serve
as well
or
would that mess it up
and
why?
The Best Man - C. O. Smith [a Rescued Record]
a little scene
among a triangle
this guy is full of himself
Ashes to Ashes - The 5th Dimension [a Rescued Record]
gone
with leisure suits
and earth shoes
Unchained Melody - Willie Nelson [from Stardust]
the parts of a sung melody
used
to inflect
a spoken
statement
he does it as simply as he can
Galliard Battaglia - Samuel Scheidt - The Canadian Brass [from High, Bright, Light and Clear]
pre-valve brass music
leans hard
on its limited pitch content
Banned Playalong Playedalong 1 - Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Aaron Keyt [February 15, 1988]
from tape
into the room
we hear Aaron
playing jaw harp
Karen
plays the bug guitar
and I
play violin
occasionally
also
singing dronishly
improvising along with it
a method
of attention focus
as is
journaling
sticking with it
a small group
meditation practice
Derivative of 8 - Dylan Hicks [a Rescued Record]
their heart isn't in it
they don't really believe
their own
cosplay
Banned Rehearsal 496 - Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Anna K, Neal Kosály-Meyer [Mary 30, 1998]
nobody wants to startor waits either
on edge
a pause
to squeak
a session
of passings
in and out
sing in a can consort
one can't
intentionally
rid a sound
of prior aesthetic
distinction
to do so
is
itself
a prior aesthetic
distinction
lesson:
we are what we are
and hear what we hear
20+ minutes in
quite an interesting dialog ensues
we don't use fingering charts
we figure it out ourselves
we
are an experiment
in creative intelligence
somebody
(Aaron)
is killing it
on the Mighty Wurlitzer
dissolve to radio static
Fragment - Martin Supper - Hans Zischler [from Open Space 20]
words wander through
on wires
pulled
from outside experience
baffled signifier need
Zither Film 10 - Keith Eisenbrey [February 19, 2008]
quite entertaining
in its way
leaves quietly
Government Hooker - Lady Gaga [from Born This Way]
robotic erotic fantasy dance
24 Tonal Preludes: 17 - 20 - Greg Short - Keith Eisenbrey [recorded live at The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center Seattle, February 24, 2018]
not a perfect performance
but quite brilliant in fact
to play
these pieces
one must believe in them
absolutely
for the
duration of the performance
No Place To Go - Peter Nelson-King [recorded live at The Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, July 11, 2023]
boldly illustrated pages
of aphoristic syllables
pinballing
between poetic speech bursts
words
lose their meaning
amid these sounds
language
comes apart
these busy
sounds
are
my wiggly puppet fingers
Prelude - Steve Layton [from No Mind]
squeezed tight
for space saving
Premier livre de clavecin: Triosieme Ordre (ut) : Les Laurentines - François Couperin - Kenneth Gilbert
charmingly bedecked
as with any costume
it lives or dies
with its wearer
it is intended
to move
with a living
being
Benvenuto Cellini, Act 2, Tableau 3 - Hector Berlioz - Orchestre National de France, Chorus of Radio France, John Nelson, Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Laurent Naouri, Jean-François Lapointe, Renaud Delaigue, Eric Salha, Marc Mauillon, Roman Nédélec, Éric Huchet
composed
line by line
with the dialog
we are riveted
to the moments
in their headlong rush
El Sampedrino - Carlos Guastavino - Tersa Berganzo, Juan Antonio Alvarez Parejo
we are told a story
in verse
the music
lubricates
the
stilted verbal rhythms
pulls it further
from quotidian speech
to insulate it
from critical appraisal
Dallas Blues - Wilbur Sweatman [from Turn Me Loose White Man]
I'm not convinced this track is correctly labeled
{NB it was}
less
Dallas than New Orleans
but I guess that's just the way that track goes
Loose Feet - The Georgians [from That Devilin' Tune]
social music
must be in a language
clearly understood
by its
population
lingua francas
serve
a social purpose
I Ain't Got No Body - Sophie Tucker [from Turn Me Loose White Man]
a bold brassy voice
when did vocal amplification
become a thing
in nightclubs?
I Got Rhythm - Spirits of Rhythm [from That Devilin' Tune]
rides weightless
on its toes
Jivin' Woman Blues - Blind Boy Fuller [from Turn Me Loose White Man]
the entertainment payload
of the lyrics
is matched
by the
guitar's commentary
and
is that a spoons player?
Four Transcriptions from Emerson (mid 1930's): No. 3 - Charles Ives - Charles Ives [from Charles Ives Plays Charles Ives]
a pianist
dreams in his basement
What You Gonna Do? - Cavalry Quartet [from Turn Me Loose White Man]
conversion by threat
knuckle under or else
Rock House Boogie - John Lee Hooker [from The Legendary Modern Recordings]
the guitar
opens a door
into this other place entirely
this
recognizably alien headspace
a brag
truth value
is distinct
from brag status
2 Musics for Lucas Foss - Benjamin Boretz - Joan Forsyth, Steven Beck [streamed from Music by Ben Boretz & Frank Brickle at Greenwich House Music School, December 4, 2024]
circus clown car
He's So Fine - The Chiffons [collected from Dave Marsh's The Heart of Rock & Soul]
do lang do lang do lang
Slip Away - Clarence Carter [collected from Dave Marsh's The Heart of Rock & Soul]
the function
of the guitar talk-back
to the vocalist
has
been offloaded
to the rhythm section
the rhythm of it
is
(would be)
more interesting
if it is
(were)
the same
person
operating both
Side 2 - Pink Floyd [from The Dark Side of the Moon]
change box rhythm
choosing alienation
albums
composed like shows
one song
fades into another
with the lighting cue
unalterable album sequence
effaces
by familiarity
oh
the glory
of a well played
long spacy guitar solo!
new lights
new song
sudden anthemic shout out
to Syd
The Wind - Tapped Like a Tired Man - George Perle - Bethany Beardlsee, Morey Ritt
turns itself
inside
several outs
we wraith in
we wrestle
we relapse
wraithwardly
listening intently
to each twitch
a long slow chorale
found a tough spot
needs scrubbing
always a danger
of scrubbing
for the sake
of the
scrubbing
bump in the ear
we inahbit
the innards
of a music box
mechanical
lamellophone
the louder we get
the more tired we sound
the quieter
the more alive
to the moment
January 24, 2025
Rage Net - Stan Brakhage
fire stutter
Banned Rehearsal 336 - John E, Karen Eisenbrey, Keith Eisenbrey, Aaron Keyt [August 6, 1993]
the guitar
is sadly broken
leaping plunge open
anarchy has fled
naught is left
but doom itself
furious activity
left to sort itself out
stubbornly continuing
against
an attention black hole
steady-state persistence
tall building
early use of a modifier
the history of guitar breakage
Mom
I broke the garage
around the conversation
a session
is making noises
fitfully
engaged
the multitasking quality tax
it is salutary
in young adulthood
to raise children
as
one quickly realizes
nobody knows
what they're doing
a rough patch
one among several
Aaronsbundler banner
flown boldly
I have become dispossessed
of my theory
the theory
that I
had
a nonexistent tail
and a dispossessed theory
anything at all
is hypothetically conceivable
{journal entry of September 14, 1998:
relaxing considerably
mostly conversation
about the broken guitar
and altering Aaron's pants
the theory about that}
In Session at The Tintinabulary
January 19, 2025
Albany - Keith Eisenbrey
Postscripts
Drops
recordings of my compositions (and more!) can be found at keitheisenbrey.bandcamp.com - free to download or stream
