New Morse Code

St. Louis-based composer @starkcomposer has long been interested in forward-thinking compositions using the language and instrumentation of European classical music. But when Stark, 43, received a commission from @chambermusicamerica to write a piece for innovative cello-percussion duo @newmorsecode , he sought an expanded musical vocabulary. “With cello and percussion, there's almost no history or tradition. So we're kind of starting from scratch, or ground zero, and building that repertoire right now,” said Stark, 40, who also teaches music composition at Washington University. Stark and collaborators wished to create a piece that celebrated the natural world while warning of the catastrophes that come with global climate change. For the 21-minute “The Language of Landscapes,” they augmented Hannah Collins’ cello, Michael Compitello’s percussion and Stark’s electronics with sound wrung from discarded items like plastic bags, plus field recordings of wind and water they made outdoors in New Hampshire, Montana and New York. The result is a carefully composed sound collage that is occasionally bucolic but often ominous, and includes remixes by St. Louis artists @Mvstermind and Adult Fur. Tap the link in our bio to read/listen to our interview with Stark about the project. ✍️: Jeremy D. Goodwin 📸: Virginia Harold | @virginia_harold

The Language of Landscapes is available now wherever you stream your music! Limited edition vinyl is available on @bandcamp (link in bio)! About the album: The Language of Landscapes (music by Christopher Stark, performed by New Morse Code) is an exploration of our relationship with nature. The title track’s principal discourse is guided by the friction and/or harmony created by synthetic and natural objects and the sounds and ideals that accompany their existence. We have arrived at an era of human history in which our relationship with nature is critical, and likely calamitous, and this work is ultimately an attempt to illuminate the importance of the geographies of our existence and how they shape our musical spirit. In addition to Chris Stark’s work for cello, percussion, and electronics, the album features four remixes by an amazing roster of artists working in different genres: CNDSD (live coding), Mvstermind (hip hop), Chris P. Thompson (idm), and Adult Fur (indie rock). These remixes re-contextualize the work while also reflecting Stark’s personal community and wide-ranging listening practice. 🎶 @starkcomposer @newmorsecode @comp.y.tello 🎧🔄 @cndsd @chrispthompson @mvstermind @champagnephillips 📝 @samuelcarladams 🎙️ @sam_maul @shockcitystudios @bandcamp 🖼️ @edwrzesien @and_lucia Thanks for supporting this project along the way! @arielartists @iujsom @chambermusicamerica @avalochfarmmusicinstitute @kuschoolofmusic @asumusicdancetheatre @wustlmusic @genevamusicfestival #tLOL #album #experimentalmusic #tlol #percussion #cello #chambermusic

R•E•M•I•X One of our favorite elements of the Language of Landscapes album is the remixes. Chris handed off the recording stems to a roster of artists working in different genres: CNDSD (live coding), Mvstermind (hip hop), Chris P. Thompson (idm), and Adult Fur (indie rock). These remixes re-contextualize the work while also reflecting Chris’ personal community and wide-ranging listening practice. @chrispthompson wrote a nice piece about how he went about remixing The Language of Landscapes (link in bio). Loving this deep dive into his artistic process!You can listen to Chris Thompson’s remix—which includes a big styrofoam bowl feature—on the album’s pre-order page. Looking forward to sharing this album with the world this Friday 11/22! @starkcomposer @newmorsecode @comp.y.tello @samuelcarladams @cndsd @chrispthompson @mvstermind @shockcitystudios @bandcamp @edwrzesien @and_lucia #album #experimentalmusic #tlol #percussion #cello #chambermusic

🤨 What is the Language of Landscapes? This work for cello, percussion, and electronics has been a part of our lives since 2014. Working on this project with Chris helped us to start thinking about how we can highlight the work of scientists and other scholars working on climate change, and how we can build communities around shared sonic experiences. During a residency at @iujsom hosted by Alain Barker and @jsom.oecd Indiana University, we filmed this outline of the project with @evanmchapman Album dropping November 22! Thanks to @arielartists for the opportunity to grow this project! @starkcomposer @newmorsecode @comp.y.tello @samuelcarladams @cndsd @chrispthompson @mvstermind @shockcitystudios @bandcamp #tLOL #album

🚨New Album Alert🚨 The Language of Landscapes comes out one week from today - November 22 - on Bandcamp! This release is part of a decade-long collaboration between composer Christopher Stark and New Morse Code. The Language of Landscapes, a composition for cello, percussion, and electronics, is an exploration of our relationship with nature. The principal discourse is guided by the friction and/or harmony created by synthetic and natural objects and the sounds and ideals that accompany their existence. The title track has four scenes that each incorporate found discarded objects, field-collected environmental recordings, and live electronic processing as a way of making commentary on our wastefulness and resourcefulness. This album also features remixes by a diverse set of amazing artists: Malitzin Cortes (CNDSD), Mvstermind, Chris P. Thompson, and Adult Fur. These remixes re-contextualize the work while also reflecting Stark’s community and wide-ranging listening practice. We have toured this piece all over the country, visiting dozens of communities and listening together to the unique sounds of each place. We can’t wait to share this collection with you all! Link in bio to pre-order vinyl! @starkcomposer @newmorsecode @comp.y.tello @samuelcarladams @cndsd @chrispthompson @mvstermind @shockcitystudios @bandcamp @and_lucia Thanks to @avalochfarmmusicinstitute @chambermusicamerica @arielartists and the Mellon Foundation for supporting this longterm project.

Getting close to the release of The Language of Landscapes, featuring @starkcomposer 's magnificent work for cello and percussion (written for @newmorsecode ) as well as remixes by @chrispthompson , @cndsd , @mvstermind and Adult Fur To celebrate, we’re throwing a party here in Tempe on *November 20th* at *5 PM* at the Ambisonic Dome at ASU’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering. ••• We’ll have listening sessions in ASU’s Dome, performances, desserts, and some special acoustic ecology magic from @garthpaine ••• The party is free, but space is limited: reservations are highly recommended (link in bio, or use the QR code) ••••• It’s been a joy to work with Chris on this piece, developed collaboratively over a number of residencies and performances, including visits to personally meaningful locations around the country to listen and collect field recordings. We hope the event is an opportunity for scholars, artists, scientists, and music-lovers to come together, explore the intersection of science and art, and co-create a unique sonic ecology. @asumusicdancetheatre @asuherberger #concert #albumrelease #music #science #collaboration #video

We have had so much fun playing Viet Cuong’s Next Week’s Trees all over the world (in configurations from duo to percussion orchestra + string quintet!). Inspired by the poetry of #maryoliver, our version features visuals by @nickzoulek and multitracked audio by us. It’s so exciting to hear of many more upcoming performances! Full video link in our bio! @vietcuongmusic @toolboxpercussion @colincurrieperc @cortonasessions @cellocollins @comp.y.tello

Now streaming on @icareifyoulisten : Next Week’s Trees by @vietcuongmusic , with a video by @nickzoulek Link to listen in our bio! Viet’s piece takes the forest ecosystem as a starting point to reflect on the tension between uncertainty and hope in the face of change to our planet. Originally an orchestral work, we reinvented the piece for live and pre-recorded cello and percussion. The corresponding video by Nick Zoulek depicts the intricate interconnectedness of a miniature botanical universe, inviting us to contemplate larger interdependencies in our social and ecological communities.   Link to listen in our bio!

💿💿💿 ***ALBUM*** Out today on @newfocusrecordings : LOST AND FOUND. Robert Honstein’s new disc summarizes years of collaborative energy. We are excited to share our recording of Down Down Baby, a long-term project which has been a part of our lives since 2012. Link in bio to listen and order! @bandcamp @robertshonstein @oktavenaudio @pearladamspercussion @cellocollins @newfocusrecordings @fourtenmedia @robertshonstein @abstractionmusic #album #music #percussion #cello #chambermusic

🏃‍♀️⬅️🏃‍♂️💨 In the first movement of Down Down baby, we play Follow the Leader, exploring some amazing cello sounds. Looking forward to sharing a new audio version of this piece (recorded indoors) this Friday on @newfocusrecordings ! Full vid link in bio! @robertshonstein @newfocusrecordings  @oktavenaudio  @abstractionmusic  @fourtenmedia  @pearladamspercussion #cello #deskbells #chambermusic #music #percussion #vicfirth #pearladamspercussion

Woodblock party! 🪵🪵🪵 An excerpt from the titular movement of “Down Down Baby,” captured by @fourtenmedia . Full vid link in bio! @robertshonstein @newfocusrecordings  @oktavenaudio  @abstractionmusic  @fourtenmedia  @pearladamspercussion #cello #deskbells #chambermusic #music #percussion #vicfirth #pearladamspercussion

👯 s t r a n g e d a n c e One week until Robert Honstein’s “Lost and Found” is released on @newfocusrecordings ! Today, we’re sharing an excerpt from “Strange Dance” from “Down Down Baby,” captured by so whimsically by @fourtenmedia . We love this squirmy, joyful dance! Full vid link in our bio! @robertshonstein @newfocusrecordings  @oktavenaudio  @abstractionmusic  @fourtenmedia  @pearladamspercussion @cellocollins @comp.y.tello #cello #deskbells #chambermusic #music #percussion #vicfirth #pearladamspercussion