blog
Aug 14.2008
I had a dream the other night that has stuck in my psyche. I was in the ocean with my father. It was daylight, crisp and clear. Comfortable. There was no wind or stormy weather, and yet the waves were intense. Me and my dad were fighting to stay on the surface. We kept getting pounded into the water by what looked like 10 to 15 foot waves. I remember watching as they grew into tall peaks, and then began to tip and fall into a crashing mass on top of us. My dad was closer to the shore than me. I was deeper, thus closer to the source of the waves, and I remember watching a massive giant begin to build. It looked like it could be 20 feet tall already and it had barely reached it’s peak… This one is going to hurt… I figured I had better dive into it’s base before it began to crash. My plan payed off, I was able to look back and watch it transform into a massive crashing storm from inside out… but I lost my dad.
What is it about the ocean? It’s so scary to me. So mysterious. I need to get over my fear of the ocean, I think.
Fredo Viola’s vimeo pageJul 23.2008
Just a note… I have started a vimeo page to have high resolution representations of my video work which will be embedable. So if you are interested in seeing any of these pieces in higher res, or embedding within your facebook/myspace/blog pages… here’s where you can find them.
The Turn Ghosts is up!Jul 22.2008
Hi there, folks
First of all, for those of you on my mailing list, sorry about sending you three emails. It was a morning filled with stupid email mistakes!!
Anyway, I have finally uploaded The Turn ghost cluster performance and really hope you all enjoy it.
Click me to watch!
Jul 17.2008
YAYAY!!! I got my glockenspiel in the mail today! It’s from the 50s, of Deagan make. I was directed by a very generous and knowledgeable man by the name of Mike to buy this used instrument, despite it having some rust on a bunch of the bells. He explained that in the 50s and before that the manufacturers used different kinds of metal that, in his opinion, could not be matched today. Anyway, I LOVE the rusty bells. Love the weathered wood, broken case. This instrument makes me really happy to look at it, and it sounds lovely (although a few of the bells I have to position them specially to get a really clear tone.)
Anyway, look forward to hearing and seeing this in some upcoming cluster videos.
Jul 17.2008
Hello there folks,
OK, so… I know it seems I have missed two months of cluster feedage, but I’m preparing to release the one I made last month in the next five days. I have been sooooooooooooo busy preparing for the upcoming release! On top of that, I am working on a second website which… well, it’s going to be quite different, and I’ll be adding a bunch of new videos to that site, so possibly this cluster I will be releasing soon will be the last for a short while.
Anyway, stay tuned for my very first ghost cluster....
love,
Fredo
Jun 22.2008
Hi folks,
This has been an extremely busy month for me. I know I’m due a cluster performance video, and actually I have done two this month, but it may have to wait. Here’s what I’ve been up to…
I’m working with Liuh-Wen Ting. She’s a fantastic violist, and considering her background and skills I feel really honored to be working with her. We’re collaborating on a cluster of The Turn, and, as I mentioned, I’ve done two relatively successful tests already. But I don’t want to share until it’s perfect!
The first time I met with her we talked a lot about music. As some of you may know, I’m a fan of a whole bunch of different styles, classical and modern classical being two of my favorites. So we spoke a lot about Stravinsky and Bach. And then Liuh-Wen surprised me with an impromptu performance of Stravinsky’s Elegy. I was really moved by her performance, and rather in awe of her ability to do this from memory!
Anyway, sorry again for the delay. Hopefully it will be done soon!
Test of Friendship
May 18.2008
My fourth cluster performance is now online. It’s a song called “Friendship Is...” This video is different as one of the voices is actually going through some filters and distortion that cause it to sound like an instrument when I sing through the mic. Watch for it, it’s voice five all the way on the right. Hope you enjoy!
CLICK ME to watch Test of Friendship!
Old friends and new clusters
May 18.2008
About a month or so ago, after The Sad Song video got featured on Youtube, I got contacted by a guy who used to be one of my best friends back when I was in 6th grade. I think I saw him once in the early 90s, but it really had been a very very long time! So anyway, he happens to be a director and was coming to NYC to do a video for a band called tastiskank. It was really fun, and quite refreshing not having total responsibility for once!
Théo has barely changed at all. He looks just the way I thought he would. Here’s a shot of me and Mistah Théo:
Anyway, helping with the video caused a slight delay for the release of my May cluster performance, but it’s coming tomorrow. I shot it the day before yesterday and have been doing final touches on it the last couple days. Hope you will come and take a look. It’s for a fun song called Friendship Is…
Apr 14.2008
Hi there, folks
I’ve just released my third cluster video into the media section. It’s a second performance of Moon After Berceuse I performed in my hallway (poor neighbors!)
Moon After Berceuse - Hall Cluster
It’s a second performance of Moon After Berceuse that I shot with my little hand-held Digital Elph camera. I think it’s more intimate then the one I did with Ike. I’m holding the camera myself, and each move of my body causes a camera move as well, and I think it works to have that for a spare song like this one.
Hope you enjoy it!
Martha’s VineyardMar 21.2008
What a great trip I just had to the Martha’s Vineyard Independent Festival. I’m so appreciative to Jeremy Mayhew for selecting my two videos and arranging for me to perform. Also I’m grateful to founder Thomas Pena and to Brad Wescott, who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time.
Martha’s Vineyard is a place that takes me back to some part of my childhood I guess. The first time I set foot on the island I felt like I’d been there many times before. Anyway, I was a bit worried that the magical effect this island and it’s great community had on me might during my first trip the festival two years ago may have been due to the fact that Sad Song was shown three times and I had received such an outpouring of love from the folks there. But I’m happy to say it wasn’t any of these things. It’s just a great place. I consider it to be one of my favorite places on the planet.
Here’s a few images from some footage I took walking with Jeremy and his friend photographer friend Josh Marowitz:
Look at how rich in color the cliffs are.
This is my good friend Jeremy Mayhew.
We showed Puss and The Turn at the festival. I think Puss went over better than the Turn, but I was really nervous during the Turn because an hour later I was set to give a performance. Still, folks were laughing a lot during Puss and many people came and told me they really enjoyed it. Never under-estimate the power of laughter!
The performance went well too, although I have to admit, it was a little odd… I was singing in front of a food line! haha. I guess any experience is a good experience, and really I was just grateful to have the opportunity to give my heart to these good folks. Here’s an image:
I left the island with plans to make a video with Jeremy within the next two months. I’ve got all kinds of ideas. As was the case last time I left Martha’s Vineyard, the place has set my imagination on fire.
Mar 17.2008
I’m going to keep this short because I’m still in Martha’s Vineyard and am trying to spend as little time on the computer as possible.
I’m proud to announce the release of March’s cluster performance, Moon After Berceuse - duet with Ike Sturm. Hope you enjoy it! It was very very fun to shoot and perform.
I’ll be back at you soon with images and thoughts from the Martha’s Vineyard festival, which was even more lovely than I thought it would be!
Moon Duet, featuring Ike Sturm
dreams of Martha’s VineyardMar 12.2008
I had rather strange sleep last night. I’d say it was kind of fluorescent, electric sleep… constant but buzzing. Obsessive thoughts about the Martha’s Vineyard Independent Festival and all my lovely friends there.
At some point I was at a video store with a couple friends and I saw a poster for Fellini’s Clowns (one of my favorite films) and asked my pals a question: does this mean it’s available on dvd...? The dream response was a widescreen dvd cover in messy black and white video, but… endlessly, horizontally wide, and it spread out before my eyes, honest, slightly sad and beautiful… and it was of the Sea at Martha’s Vineyard. Somehow I imagine seeing my friend Jeremy’s face kind of translucent smiling over this vista with his friends. I was lost in a trance. Then snapping back to the video store I said, Oh yes I’m definitely going to buy The Clowns.
What is the meaning of this? I suppose it’s obnoxious to over-analyze dreams. Especially in public! So let’s just chalk it up to me being very excited. I’m going to bring my whole video and audio rig, so there should be plenty of material to work with when I return.
On a side note… The Moon Duet cluster video has been finished for five days now, but we’re having some technical difficulties with the site. But if we can’t get them figured out before I leave they will be up by the time I get back. Thanks for your patience.
Puerto Rico / shooting with Ike / strange powersMar 06.2008
Howdy folks,
So just got back from a nice week off in Puerto Rico. Such a beautiful island. I brought my camera and made a lot of little movies, hopefully some of which will make it into some future work. Here’s an image from Old San Juan:
I got back just in time to shoot my next cluster video with my friend, the great upright bassist, Ike Sturm. We captured ten voices in five passes live to my p2 card for you. It’s a performance of my song Moon After Berceuse sung at St. Peter’s church. That’s a church famously known as “the jazz church” and Ike is the musical director there. Anyway, aroudn the middle of March I’ll be going live with it, so check back.
While I was away in Puerto Rico “The Sad Song” got featured on youtube, and in one day the stats went from 1,110 views to 175,000 views, and continued to climb until the video left the front page. It was very exciting, but most beautiful about it was hearing from folks who’d seen it.
Actually, I heard from an old friend with whom I went to elementary school. His name is Theo Burkhardt, and he has a great video which I totally love, so I wanted to post a link to it. Go watch it! The song is “Strange Powers” by the Magnetic Fields. Great song. Great video.
click here to watch Strange Powers
Feb 11.2008
It’s been a long time in the making and the site is rich in content, so I here’s a little introduction to what you will find.
Opus Videos
The Sad Song is now joined by a new video for The Turn. You will find both of these videos in the media section under the heading “opus”, joined by my Silent Night video. Keep checking back for updates, there are many more in the works.
Cluster Videos
Also in the media section you’ll also find a heading called Cluster Videos. Once a month I will do a new live performance of all of the vocals of my song and cluster them together graphically. Until science finds a way to clone human beings, this is probably the purest way I can possibly perform my music live. Please head on over and take in my first performance. And if you have any requests email me!
Downloads
In the download area you will find a full set of desktop images and avatars from images by the very cool designer Richard Colman, and my own cat as avatar. Keep checking here for future treats.
Do search the site carefully, as there may be some hidden content…
I owe many thanks to Mike Grigg of Royal Magnet, who designed the site, as well as to Joey Trimmer who did the code. And the marvelous artwork is by Richard Colman.
Please enjoy the site and come back again soon!