Author Archives: Berkus

Playing Live at Sonic Vigil 6

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Berkus

Yesterday, Saturday 22nd of October, was the first public performance of the Cork City Gamelan. It was also my first live gig after overcoming my belief that I couldn’t do it because of my disability… and it went just fine. … Continue reading →

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A Prophet Looking For A Wall To Write On (Part 3)

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Berkus

Update, October 4th: I made small changes to the timing of the music. The Prophet now interrupts the background babble (rather than waiting for it to finish), and there is a short moment of hesitation ahead of each response. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles With Music For Downloading, Music Making for People With Disabilities, Playing The Waterphone | 4 Comments

A Prophet Looking For A Wall To Write On (Part 2)

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Berkus

In the first installment of this series of DIY articles, I showed you how I stretch recorded sounds to make drones, how I change pitches, and how I mix several tracks together to create an interesting musical gesture. Since then, … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles With Music For Downloading, Articles With Samples For Downloading, Music Making for People With Disabilities, Technology Reviews and Do-It-Yourself Tips | Comments Off on A Prophet Looking For A Wall To Write On (Part 2)

Playing Live at The Day Of The Endless Drone!

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Berkus

Yesterday, at about 10:00 in the morning, I dropped into the “Day Of The Endless Drone” 24-hour improvisation session in the old FAS building/Tax Office (now largely taken over by the College of Art and Design) on Sullivan’s Quay. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Music Making for People With Disabilities, Playing The Waterphone | 1 Comment

A Prophet Looking For A Wall To Write On (Part 1)

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Berkus

It’s the title of a composition I am working on at the moment. Prophets sometimes are said to write warnings and questions on walls. This prophet has many questions to ask and warnings to issue, but nobody wants to listen … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles With Music For Downloading, Articles With Samples For Downloading, Music Making for People With Disabilities, Technology Reviews and Do-It-Yourself Tips | Comments Off on A Prophet Looking For A Wall To Write On (Part 1)

SOUNDCAST 4X4 (+1) by Anthony Kelly, Danny McCarthy, Mick O’Shea, and David Stalling

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Berkus

Anthony Kelly (left), Danny McCarthy (right), Mick O’Shea (middle bottom), and David Stalling (middle top) at a Strange Attractor performance in the Crawford Gallery SOUNDCAST 4X4 (+1) has become one of the records I listen to often towards the end … Continue reading →

Posted in My Sticky Opinions, Other Soundworks In Cork | 3 Comments

New Instruments: Beer Kegs And Iron Gate

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Berkus

I have been out again, harvesting sounds. First, an old iron gate off Paul Street, to the right of the shopping centre: 4:16, in the iPod/iTunes MPEG 4 format, 3.5 MB to download, opens in a new window The file … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles With Samples For Downloading | 2 Comments

The First “Release Ready” Cork City Gamelan Music

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Berkus

I just finished the first “release ready” piece of Cork City Gamelan music. I call it Reichtum, which is German for Wealth. It is a tribute to Steve Reich – to say “thank you” for the wealth of knowledge he … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles With Music For Downloading | 2 Comments

The Reich Effect… and My Waterphone!

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Berkus

The Cork City Gamelan had to take a back seat for a week. Important other things were happening. First of all: The Reich Effect – a five day festival celebrating the 75th Birthday of Steve Reich, possibly the most influential … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles With Music For Downloading, Other Soundworks In Cork, Playing The Waterphone | 1 Comment

FLAT TIME/sounding by David Toop at CIT School Of Music

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Berkus

I like improvised music – both, performing and listening. The highlight for me this year, so far, has been a performance of FLAT TIME/sounding by David Toop at CIT School Of Music in Cork on April 15th as part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Soundworks In Cork | 6 Comments