Crystalline: an arrangement for digital chamber ensemble

Last winter, multi-track video recordings became kind of an obsession of mine. I was learning the violin, thanks mostly to YouTube and some pointers from a real violinist, and recording myself seemed like a good way to improve. It was. I wrote and recorded “Crystalline” in March supported by a clone pianist on the second screen, and a scrolling score subtitle on the third.

Then I asked whether any skilled string players wanted to collaborate on a second recording. Maybe someone could make this melody sound… better? Instead of violin, I'd play virtual pianist/composer/conductor/arranger/coordinator. (This is the etc. of ‘composer, etc.’)

Five people answered the call. I wrote an arrangement for six, filmed an Eric Whitacre-style conducting video to keep everyone roughly together, and then we recorded one at a time.

It’s September now. We have busy lives, and most of us moved apartments or houses during the recording period, so you could say this performance is either one minute or six months long.

Band members are (reading from top left of the screen):

Kalli Frisell - flute

Ryan Herbold - violin

Caitlin Laslop - cello

Dale Archer - violin

David Archer - piano, composer, etc.

Scott Archer - cello

Thanks for listening.

Want to join the next collab? We’re open to any instruments/voices. If this sounds like fun, send me an email.

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PS - Here’s my original video, complete with subtitle score. Warning: beginner violinist at work.