Experimental Electronica 1988: EMS Synthi 100 & Korg Poly 61 (Untitled) @likwidsound2

longzijun (alternate channel) This is the full version of the 3rd track - Untitled - of Experimental Music (1984-1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPhuyMYy9EI

This is a piece I worked on with a classmate, Heather Baird, while studying at Carleton University in Ottawa. I played the sounds on the two synthesizers while she arranged the composition as a whole. Maybe because of this collaborative process, the music seems to work better as a complete piece than my own compostions from that period.

The piece was recorded in Carleton U's audio lab (Michael Bussière was in charge of the computer room and audio recording lab at that time). The arpeggios and background sustained notes are from a Korg Poly 61 synthesizer.

'Untitled' features an EMS Synthi 100, a synthesizer from the early 70s. The device takes up half of small room and is interesting to use because you have to physically connect all the different sound items like sine waves, noise and filters. According to Wikipedia, only about 30 of these synthesizers were produced and their original selling price was 25,000 USD (the equivalent of over $100,000 USD today). If I had known it was so rare and expensive, maybe I would have appreciated it more back then.

~longzijun
http://longzijun.wordpress.com

updated 15 years ago

Experimental Electronica 1988: EMS Synthi 100 & Korg Poly 61 (Untitled)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-07-26 | This is the full version of the 3rd track - Untitled - of Experimental Music (1984-1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPhuyMYy9EI

This is a piece I worked on with a classmate, Heather Baird, while studying at Carleton University in Ottawa. I played the sounds on the two synthesizers while she arranged the composition as a whole. Maybe because of this collaborative process, the music seems to work better as a complete piece than my own compostions from that period.

The piece was recorded in Carleton U's audio lab (Michael Bussière was in charge of the computer room and audio recording lab at that time). The arpeggios and background sustained notes are from a Korg Poly 61 synthesizer.

'Untitled' features an EMS Synthi 100, a synthesizer from the early 70s. The device takes up half of small room and is interesting to use because you have to physically connect all the different sound items like sine waves, noise and filters. According to Wikipedia, only about 30 of these synthesizers were produced and their original selling price was 25,000 USD (the equivalent of over $100,000 USD today). If I had known it was so rare and expensive, maybe I would have appreciated it more back then.

~longzijun
http://longzijun.wordpress.com

Blues Backing Track (C# Minor): jam track for solos and improvisation practice

longzijun (alternate channel) 2014-03-11 | This is an older track, but I am moving it here from my main channel.

Free blues backing track (song title: Hospital Eyes. You can use this minor key blues song as a jam track for solo instrument (e..g, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, etc) or vocal improvisation practice.

longzijun.wordpress.com/music/blues-and-jazz-backing-tracks

This is a standard 12- bar blues progression (C#m7 x 4, F#m7 x 2, C#m7 x 2, G#m7, Fm7, C#m7 x 2).

Three versions of this song (Hospital Eyes) have been produced in three different keys and tempos (the higher the key, the faster the tempo). You can view and /or download them from the above link.

This is the first in a new series of backing tracks for your solos (guitar, saxophone, keyboards, piano, trumpet, etc).

The music was played on a Korg M50 (with drums loops from SoundPool). The video is simply a screen capture of the music being played on Media Monkey with the Milkdrop music visualizer turned on.

Cool Jazz Vamp in D minor (Free Background Music 03)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2014-02-20 | A six minute version is also available.Here is a backing track in the key of D minor for you to practice solos or improvisations over. You may also use it as background music in your non-commercial projects as long as credit (Music by Longzijun) is provided. Refer to the Terms of Use for more information: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/free-background-music-series-terms-of-use

The mp3 for this song is available from my website in this short version or in a six-minute version (the main vamp is simply repeated): longzijun.wordpress.com/2010/09/26/bgm-03

This song was recorded quite a few years ago, but I found the rough files in my computer recently. The song was created using the software Band in a Box.

The video is simply a shot of my legs as I was walking down the street. The camera used was a digital toy camera (something like a digital lomo camera) called the Harinezumi 2++

Echoes & Fragments (music) & NASA Public Domain Space Video

longzijun (alternate channel) 2014-02-20 | The music, Echoes and Fragments, is by myself (longzijun). The video footage of Earth from space and of the International Space Station and the space shuttle Endeavour is from public domain videos released by NASA
The music is the 30tht song in the my free background music series. It can be used for free in non-commercial works as longs as credit (music by longzijun) is provided. The song may also be used in monetized videos on YouTube (as long as credit is provided). Refer to the Terms of Use for more information: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/free-background-music-series-terms-of-use

Download links
To download the mp3 of the song, go to my website and download track 30 (Echoes & Fragments): website: longzijun.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/echoes-and-fragments

The public domain video footage can be downloaded from the NASA site. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia
Three videos were used from :NASA's HD video collection:
Animation: Rotating Earth at Nigh (1920x1080)
Endeavour and ISS Together in Orbit (1280x720)
Earth in HD (1280x720)
About the music
This is a simple piano piece which could be considered new age (pop) or minimalist (classical). If you like this style, you should check out the composer Ludovico Einaudi. The song was played on a Korg M50 and recorded using Cakewalk's Home Studio.

Sad but sweet piano song (Elegy): Instrumental Music 17

longzijun (alternate channel) 2012-03-01 | This is written for a former student of mine who passed away earlier this year (may she rest in peace). When writing the song I wanted to balance out the sad mood of the song with a lighter, sweeter feel to reflect her warm and caring personality.

The music may be used for free for non-commercial purposes). Just provide a credit: music by longzijun. Refer to the Terms of Use for more information: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/free-background-music-series-terms-of-use

You can find a download link at: longzijun.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/elegy

The song was composed and recorded using a Korg M50 synth. The video is simply a video capture of the song playing in Media Monkey with the Milkdrop visualizer showing (the preset used is Geiss - Pistons).

Short Instrumental Theme 05 (Free music for intros, outros and short videos)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-12-11 | The music may be used for free for non-commercial purposes). Just provide a credit: music by longzijun. Refer to the Terms of Use for more information: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/free-background-music-series-terms-of-use

To download this free ambient music track, go to: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/intros (Select Track 5)

The song was played on a Korg microx and is part of of a series of free background music tracks that are suitable for intros, outros, credit sequences and short videos.

The graphics are from the iTunes music visualizer (View - Show Visualizer)

Intro 01: Short Electronica Instrumental

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-11-24 | Intro 01: Short Electronica Instrumental. The music may be used for free for non-commercial purposes). Just provide a credit: music by longzijun. Refer to the Terms of Use for more information: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/free-background-music-series-terms-of-use

It can be downloaded via my website: longzijun.wordpress.com/music/intros (and select Track 01)

Background Music series: longzijun.wordpress.com/music

Dreams (Original Draft)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-10-08 | This is how the song Dreams (Free Background Music 12) got started. The final song is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRtHl9n-G3o

Title: Dreams (outtake 1)
Music by longzijun

I don't remember doing this version, but I found it interesting to compare it to the final version (which seems a lot lighter in mood).

Experimental Electronica 1988: Young Sycamore

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-07-31 | Young Sycamore was composed in 1988 at Carleton University, It had live vocal and percussion parts that weren't recorded. It was only performed once. The first part featured a small group of singer chanting, the second part featured an operatic style 12-tone aria and the third part featured the performers on percussion instruments.

This is the full version of the 2nd track - Young Sycamore - of Experimental Music (1984-1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPhuyMYy9EI

The lyrics were adapted from a poem of the same name by Wlliam Carlos Williams. The piece was written/played using the software 'PC Composer' and a midi controller. The first two parts (if I remember correctly) were written according to a 12-tone system.'

longzijun.wordpress.com/music

Experimental Electronica 1989: String Quartet No. 2 (Electronic Interpretation)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-07-30 | I recorded this piece in the 1989 at Carleton University in Ottawa.

This is the full version of the 4th track - String Quartet - of Experimental Music (1984-1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPhuyMYy9EI

The video clips are adapted screen captures (using CamStudio) of music visualizations (using the iTunes visualizer) .

This was originally written as a piece for a string quartet, but as I was making a computer version of it. I changed some of the parts.

For 'Sting Quartet No. 2', all the notes were typed into a computer (using the PC Composer programme) and then played back through a midi controller before being recorded on a reel-to-reel tape deck. Some of the sections were composed traditionally (e.g., following the normal customs of melody and harmony) and some parts were written using a repeating 12-tone system.

longzijun.wordpress.com/music

Experimental Electronica 1988: EMS Synthi 100, loops, voices, saxophone, tam tam (Mammals)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-07-26 | This is the full version of the 5th track - Mammals I Have Known and Loved - of Experimental Music (1984-1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPhuyMYy9EI

This is a piece I produced in 1988, while studying at Carleton University in Ottawa.features the EMS Synthi 100, a tam tam (a kind of gong, but in this composition it is being with a violin bow), alto saxophone, pop bottles (someone is blowing over the open tops), voices, loops* made of sound effects and laughter. The voices mainly came from outtakes of interviews I had been recording while doing some work at the campus radio station (CKCU).

*As the music was recorded on reel-to-reel tape decks, the loops were actual loops of tape being played on one deck while being recorded on the other.

~longzijun: http://longzijun.wordpress.com

Experimental Electronica: Yamaha DX7 vs Saxophone (Blade, 1984)

longzijun (alternate channel) 2011-07-26 | This is the full version of the 1st track of the video Experimental Music (1984-1989): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPhuyMYy9EI

This track is from a work that was recorded at Fanshawe College in London (in the smaller first-year studio of the Music Industry Arts programme). I spent just over a year there.

'Blade' features drums, synthesizer (a housemate's Yahama DX-7), alto saxophone (which I played), voices, a bicycle pump, coins, pieces of wood, glasses of water and probably a few things I have forgotten about--everything was played live. I recorded the piece with some of my schoolmates. We had some free time and I an idea kicking around in my head after playing around on the DX7. The piece was recorded in two takes. Basically. it's just a bunch of guys playing around in a studio.

I recently went though some old cassette tapes, located the electronic works and converted them to digital files (by taking the headphone signal from a tape deck and feeding it into a small mixing deck.

The song seems to slow down and speed up . . . I'm not sure if this is caused by the tape playback or whether we really were slowing down and speeding up.

The visual part is just the song being played in iTunes with the music visualizer showing. I then used AfterEffects to add a 'glass' effect to the screen capture, giving the moving squiggles a more three dimensional feel.

Music by longzijun: http://longzijun.wordpress.com