Category Archives: Articles / Writings
Oak Ridge Chorus: The Journey
On March 4th the Oak Ridge Chorus under the direction of Brenda Luggie will premiere my piece “What is home” for mixed choir and jazz trio.
Program notes:
What is Home poses a question about identity and personal roots. For many, home is not simply the house or the city that you were born, it is a complex idea that changes with time. Our childhood memories and multisensorial experiences of our upbringing make our “home”; people, places, foods, sounds, also identify our place in the world. A sound, a simple scent can place us there.
The piece has the form of a tune for mixed choir with jazz trio and transits the fine line between what’s familiar and what’s not.
More information and tickets:
The journey is different for each of us as humans, but there are common themes. Hear the Oak Ridge Chorus sing about our journeys as humans in this uplifting concert. A special commissioned piece by composer Jorge Variego will be announced. The concert is part of our Penny4Arts programming offering FREE attendance for youths 18 and under.
Event Supported By
Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA)
(865) 483-5569
office@orcma.org
Sewanee Summer Music Festival 2022!
Jorge Variego, our Composition Program director, has curated a well-rounded program that looks at music from both the composer and musician perspective. Learn more about our Composition Program on our website: ssmf.sewanee.edu/experience/composition-program
Variego3 at the Bistro
With Jorge Variego (clarinet), Jack Roben (guitar) and Rusty Holloway (bass).
Composing with Constraints is OUT!
Another great review of “Goes Free”!
Domino Ensemble presents: Goes Free
July 2021 – Domino Ensemble is a band with a focus on creating a wonderful and dynamic sound by combining elements of genres as diverse as jazz, fusion, and even some progressive influences. The band’s sound is very varied and what makes it quite special is the fact that there are virtually no limits to the artist’s creativity and approach. The group thinks in terms of creating great songs rather than sticking to the rigorously bound confines of a music genre. As a result, anything goes as long as Domino Ensemble is able to achieve its desired results through music.
The band’s recent work, Goes Free, is a collection of performances and improvisational pieces based on compositions written by composers who were born into slavery, including Ignatius Sancho, as well as Thomas Green and Basile Bares. This record is a perfect example of what it means to keep an open mind musically, and the amazing results definitely pay off here. Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, the group set out to stray from the conventional path and craft outstanding music that feels exciting and liberation. Their most recent studio effort, “Goes Free,” contains five songs, shining a light on the band’s diverse approach and world-class musicianship. The opening track, “Just So in the North” is an extended jam, which dives deeper into the vast variety of sonic aesthetics that these musicians are so open to embrace. “Le Vieux Garçon (The Old Boy)” is another fantastic track, which is particularly striking due to the fascinating rhythmic patterns, bringing an experimental feel to the sound. “The Boy with the Axles in His Hands” is another exciting track, which provides a smooth insight into the band’s ability to approach classic-sounding melodic ideas in a more direct and personal way. The song “Jan” features a prominent lead sax performance that’s super evocative and spontaneous, while the final track, “La Lousianaise,” the band starts small, but then delves into a complex and intricate fabric of melodies and drones.
Domino Ensemble’s music should definitely be right up your alley if you enjoy the sound of contemporary jazz with a bit of an experimental vibe to it. At the end of the day, the band’s personality is creative and one-of-a-kind, and there’s something quite outstanding about its ability to think differently.
Find out more about Domino Ensemble, and do learn more about Goes Free, which is currently available on the best digital streaming services out there.
“Goes Free” reviewed!
A review of our latest EP “Goes Free” that came out yesterday in Jazz Corner. We are still cornered, a bit in a bit out… Listen to it in Bandcamp! / Una reseña de nuestro ultimo EP “Goes Free” que grabamos en diciembre pasado. Escuchalo en Bandcamp.
Domino Ensemble is a band with a focus on creating new music that values free-form aesthetics and creative thinking.
In fact, a lot of the band’s material is based on pure improvisation. The Ensemble’s work is all about each individual musician, but rather the sum of its part. What I mean by that is that these artists aren’t performing in a selfish way, but rather they see a higher musical purpose. In addition to improvising, they also workshop songs and compositions from student composers, allowing young creatives to voice their artistry and reach a broader audience with their work.
The band’s most recent EP is aptly titled Goes Free, highlighting the spontaneity and honest vibe of the band’s recording. The first track is a touching song titled “Just So in the North,” which is extremely diverse and impactful, revealing the proficiency of these musicians over the span of roughly 8 minutes.
The second track is titled “Le Vieux Garçon (The Old Boy), and it serves as another fantastic example of the group’s artistry, and ability to set the bar higher with so much balance. The following number, “Jan” clocks in at slightly over the 5-minute mark, being the shortest song on the EP. In spite of that, it still packs a lot of creativity and punch, highlighting the proficiency of these amazing musicians.
Finally, the record comes to a close with “La Lousianaise,” a fantastic track with a bit of a New Orleans flair to it.
This EP is incredibly well-produced, revealing the band’s ability to perform unrestrained, but without falling into the trap of self-indulgence, which at times seems to plague some improvisational artists. What I mean is that sometimes, artists seem to play for the sake of showing off rather than to serve the composition, but this is definitely not the case here, as Goes Free is a testament to the band’s focus on achieving unity and create a really good experience for the audience, serving the music as opposed to only serving themselves.
Cullen Burke (synth)
Hunter Deacon (drums)
Matt Nelson (double bass)
Jorge Variego (saxophones)
Read the post here:
Purple Ego reviewed on “The Clarinet”
The latest edition of “The Clarinet” came out today and it includes a thorough review of our CD “Purple Ego” (Centaur 2019), check it out! / La edición más reciente de “The Clarinet” salió hoy y viene con una crítica muy buena de nuestro CD “Purple Ego” del 2019. Una alegría enorme saber que el album se sigue escuchando!
Domino Ensemble – CALL FOR SCORES
Domino Ensemble – Call for scores
In our first call for scores we want to encourage the creation of new works of any aesthetic for viola and clarinet (including bass clarinet or soprano saxophone).
Guidelines:
- Instrumentation: Duo. The available instruments are viola (one performer) and clarinet, bass clarinet, or soprano saxophone (one performer). Electronic sounds can be used in addition to the acoustic instruments. Multimedia works with video will also be considered.
- Solo works will not be accepted.
- Max duration: 8’
- Deadline: December 20th 2020
- The call is open to ALL composers worldwide.
- You can submit pieces that have been previously performed but not professionally recorded and released.
- Single movements of larger works will be considered.
- The work can include improvisation. Send us an email if you have questions about this particular point.
What to submit:
- Complete the Google Form with a link to the music score (and recording if available), short bio, program note, and contact information.
- Link https://forms.gle/QNW1XvoUuQDnba4y5
- Fee: $20 for the first submission, $10 for every subsequent piece submitted. There is no limit of submissions per composer. Payment via PayPal (add the confirmation to the Google form).
Prize:
- The selected works will be included in the next album of the ensemble. This release will be in 2021 and will include a worldwide distribution.
- 10 CDs free of charge to each of the selected composers.
- At least one professional review of the album.
- Live performance as soon as we can get back onstage!
- Results of the selected works will be announced at the end of February 2021
About the performers:
Hillary Herndon (viola)
Violist Hillary Herndon has earned a national reputation for her brilliant playing, “sweetly soaring tone” (Time Out New York), and insightful teaching. She has been heard on NPR and PBS and has collaborated with some of the world’s foremost artists, including Itzhak Perlman, who described Hillary as “having it all… a gifted teacher and an excellent musician.” Ms. Herndon teaches at the University of Tennessee, the Viola Winter Intensive and is the director of Daraja Strings in Moshi, Tanzania. Her recordings are available on MSR Classics. Herndon holds degrees from Eastman and Juilliard and serves as President for the American Viola Society.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwpMzT1YffYAMaRH9omLgcQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC21eYQPes7GMWkQnbT6jKHQ
Jorge Variego (clarinets, saxophone)
Jorge Variego was born in Rosario, Argentina. He is a former Fulbright Scholar and is currently on the Music Theory/Composition faculty at the University of Tennessee. His book publications include “Algorithmic Composition” with the National University of Quilmes (2018) and the upcoming “Composing with Constraints” with Oxford University Press.
His recordings as composer and performer are available on Albany Records, Naxos, Centaur and Parma Records.
Recent releases with the Domino Ensemble
https://open.spotify.com/album/60MpP4qvusFi1x65JCKyVO?si=QETEXEbbSFeUtYevRbfQeQ
https://open.spotify.com/album/5BhLJHlBzn0ovFEZ7yIb6U?si=uw33WKiTT7uHP6-b8iuAdQ
For questions please send us an email to: info@dominoensemble.com
Virtual Composition Program @ SSMF – Sewanee Summer Music Festival
It is no secret that the evolution of COVID 19 has completely upset life as we know it. While we still grieve the loss of the 2020 Sewanee Summer Music Festival as planned, we are excited to offer various online options for students to continue their studies with SSMF faculty this summer. Nothing can replace a summer on the mountain, but we hope these programs will allow you to continue your studies, engage with our faculty, and connect with students from across the country and around the world!
Each area is different, with some faculty more able to offer an online program than others. Please look to see what is available in your program area, as well as general masterclasses and seminars applicable to all instruments.
Each area is different, with some faculty more able to offer an online program than others. Please look to see what is available in your program area, as well as general masterclasses and seminars applicable to all instruments.
In a nutshell …
Monday-Tuesday: Individual Lessons (1 hour)
Each student will receive five online individual lessons during the four weeks.
Each student will receive five online individual lessons during the four weeks.
Wednesday: Group Sessions (1 ½ hour)
Each student will participate in four composition seminars. These meetings will consist of a Zoom group meeting and will be dedicated to a specific composer or work. Some of these sessions will be lead (live) by guest composers, conductors, and performers.
Each student will participate in four composition seminars. These meetings will consist of a Zoom group meeting and will be dedicated to a specific composer or work. Some of these sessions will be lead (live) by guest composers, conductors, and performers.
Thursday Group Orchestration Class (1 ½ hours)
Each student will participate in four orchestration sessions. The study materials will be provided.
Each student will participate in four orchestration sessions. The study materials will be provided.
Friday Electronic Music Seminar (1 ½ hours)
Each student will participate in five sessions dedicated to electronic music. In these sessions, we will discuss aspects of recording and mixing, digital transformation and sound processing, and more. The fifth session of the seminar will be a concert showcase of everyone’s works.
Each student will participate in five sessions dedicated to electronic music. In these sessions, we will discuss aspects of recording and mixing, digital transformation and sound processing, and more. The fifth session of the seminar will be a concert showcase of everyone’s works.
Drunken Raccoon – UNRELEASED
The EP Drunken Raccoon features Jorge Variego (clarinet, soprano saxophone and compositions), Jon Hamar (double bass) and Keith Brown (drums). It was recorded live on 12-16-19 at the University of Tennessee, Powell Recital Hall. Recording engineer: Chris Jerger.
Drunken Raccoon is the ensemble’s most recent exploration in trio format that fuses elements of tango, jazz, free improvisation and electronics. The EP includes two new works that feature the soprano saxophone, Drunken Raccoon and Polish Vodka, a Tango Blues, a personal homage to Anthony Braxton in Free Fugue, and a newly commissioned work by a young composer, The March, by Kris Monson that incorporates live electronics.
All original compositions by Jorge Variego except The March by Kris Monson.
Domino Ensemble review – On The Verge series GSU
Music filled the air as drumsticks crashed onto the cymbals and each string on the bass was strummed swiftly to melt into the soprano saxophone as each instrument crescendoed. This trio of instruments took the audience on a journey from “Polish Vodka,” all the way to “Drunken Raccoon.” This journey was led by the Domino Ensemble.
GS Department of Music’s On The Verge Series for new music presented The Domino Ensemble Wednesday night at the Carol A. Carter Recital Hall. The Ensemble was able to grace the audience with music from their newest album “Drunken Raccoon.”
The Knoxville-based ensemble is comprised of Hunter Deacon on the drum set; Rob Linton playing double bass; and Jorge Variego on clarinet and soprano saxophone. Variego also acts as the trio’s composer.
The trio played music from their newest album “Drunken Raccoon,” which contained a bluesy and contemporary feel to each song. Beginning with the “Polish Vodka” leading into “Tango Blues” followed by, “The March,” “Glove Assault,” “Tango Fugue alla Braxton” and finally concluding with their title piece “Drunken Raccoon”.
Variego said the inspiration behind the uncanny title, “Drunken Raccoon,” was thanks to his neighborhood watch group, who said they witnessed a raccoon break into someone’s trash and drink that person trashed alcohol. This led to others in the neighborhood witnessing a drunken raccoon.
The Domino Ensemble’s music was not the only music presented Wednesday night. Two composition student compositions were chosen to be debuted at the concert by The Domino Ensemble. Francisco Corthey’s piece, “Inmersiones,” was premiered, as well as Alex Ferré’s piece “What sixe genre do you wear?”
Ferré described the experience in hearing his song for the first time as weird because they “work with synthesizers a majority of the time, so it’s strange to hear it on actual instruments, but hearing something you made out of nothing be performed is just a great feeling.”
Variego said performing tonight was very meaningful to him as this was his second time performing at GS since his first appearance at one of the first editions of the On The Verge Series in 2013.
Since 2012 the Georgia Southern Department of Music has been presenting the On The Verge Series to introduce students and faculty to new music from across the country and abroad.