How to ruin a piano

Underscore

Composer/pianist Sarah Gibson shows us her bag of tricks, plays the melodica, and tells us why she composed a piano piece for just the left hand. Then, we discuss how different concert venues affect our concert-going experience.

Playlist

Here is a Spotify playlist to pair with Underscore episode #B2! Co-hosts Chrysanthe and Thomas collaborated with our guest Sarah Gibson to curate these tracks based on the conversations, recs, and vibes of this episode.

Guest

Composer/pianist Sarah Gibson shows us her bag of tricks, plays the melodica, and tells us why she composed a piano piece for just the left hand.

• Sure Baby, Manana by Sarah Gibson
• and it's spring when the world is puddle-wonderful; Concerto for Left-hand piano by Sarah Gibson
• Outsider by Sarah Gibson, performed by HOCKET ensemble
• Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major by Maurice Ravel (iTunes / Spotify)
• John Cage Prepared Piano app

Find Sarah Gibson online:

• Website
• Twitter
• HOCKET

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Lightning Round Questions

• What genre is your music?
  Modern collaborative classical
• Performance ritual?
  Listening to Yo-Yo Ma playing the Bach solo cello suites, drinking a Coke, and listening to playlist in the car.
• A modern/technological tool that’s extremely helpful to your practice?
  iPad + bluetooth pedal; all Sarah’s music is stored digitally, and there are no more awkward page turns!
• What failure that turned out for the best?
  Her phone alarm went off during a show. Luckily, it was in the exact right key and added a nice flavor to the piece.
• Something besides music that you’re obsessed with right now?
  Her dog and cooking. (Not together.)
• A piece of art that changed your life?
  Ceiling of the Paris Opera House, painted by Marc Chagall

Counterpoint

How do different concert venues affect the concert-going experience?

Something Old

J Dilla's instrumental hip hop album Donuts (iTunes / Spotify / Music video), especially the song "Lightworks."

Something New

Los Angeles Philharmonic's newly-announced 2018-2019 concert season, which features 54 new music commissions, 22 women composers, and 27 composers of color. Article by Brian Lauritzen on the KUSC blog.

Something Borrowed

For All I Care album by The Bad Plus (iTunes / Spotify), especially the song "Semi-Simple Variations."

Something Blue

Blue Planet II (Original Television Soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer (iTunes / Spotify)

Credits

• Hosts: Thomas Kotcheff and Chrysanthe Tan
• Guest: Sarah Gibson
• Script: Chrysanthe Tan
• Recording engineer/editor: Mark Hatwan
• Produced by USC Radio Group

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Connect

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Thomas is @thomaskotcheff on Twitter and Instagram.
Chrysanthe is @chrysanthetan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.