How on earth does one create a 1200-tone tone row? Or even a 372-tone row in Sibelius? Find out in this wacky episode featuring Aaron Breeze, the swingin’ licc master himself! The broader topics in this thrilling, conversational episode include silliness and perceived complexity, the connection between playing and speaking, red dress methodology, repetition and intent, presentation in music, high-effort memes, mixing contexts and genres, and the social state of online spaces. We’re psyched that global icon Sarah Brand brought microtonality back

Music

Intro - Groovy Serialism in 372-TET (Aaron Breeze)Captain Holt screaming (arr. Aaron Breeze)Troy and Abed off to Dreamland (arr. Aaron Breeze)Red Dress (Sarah Brand) - reharmonized by Aaron BreezeRed Dress (Sarah Brand) - reharmonized by Stephen WeigelCPAC Anthem Video A CAPPELLA HARMONY! (QW4RTZ)this is the greatest piano concerto of all time (Aaron Breeze)3 Slapstick Piano Etudes (Aaron Breeze)Red Dress (Sarah Brand) - reharmonized by FAST-FAST musicFriday Night (Tim Robinson) - from I Think You Should LeaveBeethoven Symphony No. 5 but it’s in 5/8 and 5-EDO (arr. Aaron Breeze)Outro - Red Dress (Sarah Brand) - reharmonized by Aaron Breeze

Check out Aaron’s YouTube channel!

https://www.youtube.com/user/AaronBreezeComposer

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In this colorful, rich episode, we take a look into the importance of visual and narrative elements in accompanying microtonal music and its ideas. Stephen James Taylor does this not only through writing music in film, but also through his own visual content, such as in “Surfing the Sonic Sky,” an important documentary about Erv Wilson. Among the topics discussed here are: how to approach microtonality in film composition (mixing that with 12-TET), dosage control, the emotions one can only get from microtonal music, and hearing different instruments played with cool effects! We’ll also spill the beans on how to get tons of Chinese gongs for a cheap price…   Doing something new: for each Now&Xen episode made (often), I’m trying to create a cover or transcription. For this episode, I’m planning to transcribe Stephen James Taylor’s “Quantum 7” performance from YouTube (though I haven’t been able to complete this yet). Be sure to follow the Stephen Weigel YouTube channel if you don’t want to miss it!  

Music

Ancient Seers (Surfing the Sonic Sky) - Stephen James TaylorSivi - ILEVENS

Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celeste - Béla Bartók

Sonic Sorcerer (Surfing the Sonic Sky) - Stephen James Taylor

Music from “The Giving” [58-tone Hebdomekontany vs. 12-equal] - Stephen James Taylor

MOS Vamp (Surfing the Sonic Sky) - Stephen James Taylor

Music from “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” [7-limit] - Stephen James TaylorEddie Van Halen clip (Back to the Future)Believe me, if all those endearing young charms - Thomas Moore (Bugs bunny clip)Quantum 7 (Transcendent Tonality) - Stephen James Taylor

Remorphed Keyboard (Surfing the Sonic Sky) - Stephen James TaylorThree-Part Invention - Stephen James TaylorDizzy Spell - Stephen James TaylorTrouvaille - Stephen James TaylorThe Sugmad is Dreaming - Stephen James TaylorExpressions - Stephen James TaylorThe Coprime Colors [7-limit JI] - Stephen James TaylorMood of Neptune [Fibonacci-based JI] - Stephen James TaylorRockin’ da Beat [17-tone MOS scale] - Stephen James TaylorTopsy Turvy Town theme [from Mickey Mouse] - Stephen James TaylorRafiki’s Theme [from Timon & Pumbaa] - Stephen James TaylorBlack Panther [31-TET establishing shot] - Stephen James TaylorBlack Panther [53-TET dream sequence] - Stephen James TaylorSonic Sky Credits/31 for Spud (Surfing the Sonic Sky) - Stephen James Taylor

Check out Stephen James Taylor’s music:

https://www.stephenjamestaylor.com/sjt/home_page.html

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0853200/

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/stephen-james-taylor/6860557

https://www.youtube.com/user/SurfingTheSonicSky

https://vimeo.com/sonicsky

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

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Transcription of “Quantum 7” coming soon!

Anna-Maria Hefele, overtone singing sensation, has kindly graced us with her presence! Witness conversation about the tuning and construction of the intricate and aesthetically majestic Lambdoma project (built by Josef Baier). We also discuss how overtone singing intertwines with various musical ideas (production, style, classical technique, analytically hearing sound, the clash between overtones and 12-TET, glissando and vibrato). Be sure to check out her overtone singing class!Doing something new: for each Now&Xen episode made, I’m trying to create a cover or transcription. For this episode, I transcribed the first Lambdoma performance excerpt on YouTube! (Stephen Weigel channel). Be sure to check out the Patreon-exclusive episode about the specific notes of the tuning as well!  

Music

OVERTONE SINGING & LAMBDOMA - Improvisation by Anna-Maria Hefele

Check out Anna’s overtone singing class and projects:

www.overtone.academy

https://overtone.academy/product/lambdomama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC9Qh709gas

https://anna-maria-hefele.com/

https://www.supersonus.eu/cd/

http://www.josef-baier.at/?fbclid=IwAR1ojcygRC_7g8jmSNjz7xH8f4cUFAFGLnZ3Xxpt9fBtR5Q6XtJMeCEUsXs

Bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63529215

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

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Transcription of Overtone Singing & Lambdoma 1:https://youtu.be/qxxaGHuaOME

A fascinating collaboration between Ben Spees, of The Mercury Tree, and Damon Waitkus, of Jack O’ the Clock. We take a look at the acoustic instruments used to create it (including non-Western ones), swap files, and talk about the challenges and inspirations behind the project. We also affirm quarter tones as part of the xenharmonic canon, nerd out about the regularity of scales, and hint at the secret “Migraine” project. Check out Ventifacts on Bandcamp, it is WELL worth the listen!Doing something new: for each Now&Xen episode made, I’m trying to release a cover of one of the songs on my YouTube channel, if it’s relevant and I can do it. For this episode, there’s a cover of The Ballad of Hearst and Herriman (10-edo)! It’s premiering the day of episode release (the 12th, since we love 12 so much here at Now&Xen).

Music

Intro - Rest [Ventifacts] (24edo)Anxiety - Damon WaitkusDog Day Music [Ventifacts] (24edo)Pacific [Ventifacts] (24edo)Azimuth of Sunrise [Ventifacts] (24edo)Pacific [Ventifacts] (24edo)Weeping Wall - David BowieBonneville [Ventifacts] (24edo)Dog Days [Ventifacts] (24edo)Mravalzhamier (Benia, Georgian polyphonic tuning) - performed by trio kavkasiaAzimuth of Sunrise [Ventifacts] (24edo)Hidden Well [Ventifacts] (20edo)Outro -The Ballad of Hearst & Herriman [Ventifacts] (10edo)

Check out the album on Bandcamp (and Ben and Damon’s projects):

https://ventifacts.bandcamp.com/album/ventifacts

https://damonwaitkus.bandcamp.com/

https://jackotheclock.bandcamp.com/

https://themercurytree.bandcamp.com/

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

https://www.patreon.com/nowandxen

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Cover of Hearst & Herriman:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjpjJKNSCI8

“Visitors,” a lovely acoustic journey inspired by the visits of animals, is an album that leads to great conversation. Performed by Ben Hjertmann and Emmalee Hunnicutt, this masterpiece uses many different instruments which we discuss here. Fresh topics include: the act of rounding fretless tab, what a mentally ill Sufjan Stevens would sound like, performing live, JI lattices, chord symbols, and why we like secrets. All of the music from the episode is from the album, which is on Bandcamp! By the way, does anyone know the Nick Drake song Ben references at 33:26-34:00? If so, leave a comment!Doing something new: for each Now&Xen episode made, I’m trying to release a cover of one of the songs on my YouTube channel, if it’s relevant and I can do it. There’s a 17-tone equal temperament cover of “Luna Mirage” there now (link is at the very bottom).

Music

Intro - Puijila Plays in the Mirrored MorningVulture in a Desert of MenRed BluesJack of SpadesRed BluesJack of SpadesPardic HymnWho Cooks for YouLuna Mirage (17edo cover arr. Stephen Weigel)Pardic HymnVulture in a Desert of MenPuijila Plays in the Mirrored MorningRed Blues (ending chord)Outro - Luna Mirage

Check out the album on Bandcamp:

https://benhjertmann.bandcamp.com/album/visitors

https://www.benhjertmann.com/

https://emmaleehunnicutt.com/

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

https://www.patreon.com/nowandxen

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmYNMpemAIq8DnK5HJ9gsA

Cover of Luna Mirage:https://youtu.be/rrFF9POxskw

We chat with Rami Olsen and Freddi Sturm, the brains behind “Hear Between the Lines,” about all things microtonal arranging/content! Topics touched upon include contrived wet food analogies, channel ideas, the story of Rami’s cool guitars, fooling the ear by drifting, comparing different tuning systems’ whole tone scales, piano pedal shredding, and the complications that arise in microtonality from using notation! By the way, their idea for monosyllabic words on quarter accidentals is a great one, so from now on, I will be telling people that Jacob Collier modulated to G-shat major, thanks (or did he)?

Music

Intro - Hear Between the Lines channel tagGiant Steps (24edo challenge version with Stephen Weigel)In the Bleak Midwinter (Jacob Collier modulation)

Giant Steps (24edo challenge version)Her Selcouth Touch (ending chord) - Stephen WeigelMicrotonal Star Wars Cantina Band - arr. The RasaBridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel (arr. Stephen Weigel in 19edo)K.G.L.W. - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel (arr. Stephen Weigel in 19edo)Outro - Giant Steps (24edo challenge version with Stephen Weigel)

Check out their YouTube and Patreon:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6zVKDAekLKmdOa6LnkggIA

https://www.patreon.com/Hearbetweenthelines/posts

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLHrqfLV-knUnVcdcqihrtg

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3CaryPl71UFDruIfhvKe_w

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

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Sevish and I chat about software, instruments, and philosophical questions. We are both excited to continually witness more and more people become interested in microtonality! Web-based browsers such as Scale Workshop, Xenpaper, and Leimma have made it even easier for people to play microtones without downloading synthesizers - all you need is an Internet connection. Sevish also explains how MPE works and why that’s helpful. Find out once and for all whether we’re just hitting random notes out of tune or not

Music

Sevish - The Almighty Fractal (from “Bubble”)

Channels:

https://www.youtube.com/user/sevishmusic https://sevish.bandcamp.com/https://sevish.com/blog/Use these links to play microtones on your QWERTY keyboard with nothing but an internet connection:https://sevish.com/scaleworkshop/ https://isartum.net/https://xenpaper.com/

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

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Check out our latest conversation with the brilliant guitarist Tolgahan Çoğulu, inventor of the LEGO microtonal guitar and automatic microtonal guitar. We dive into how these guitars work, how they could be useful for playing microtones, the inspiration behind these incredible ideas, and the geometry of making frets tune accurately on a LEGO grid! If anyone listening to this episode wants to sponsor the automatic microtonal guitar, or knows someone who would, please reach out to Tolgahan at [email protected]

Music

Intro (from first concert w/ LEGO microtonal guitar): I Vrisi ton Peyiotisson arr. Benjamin Barbarič

Outro (from first concert w/ LEGO microtonal guitar): I Vrisi ton Peyiotisson arr. Benjamin Barbarič, Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım (comp. Âşık Veysel) arr. Tolgahan Çoğulu

Tolgahan’s channels:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf7D886oBahxSSwBRVIib0A

http://tolgahancogulu.com/

https://instagram.com/tolgahancogulu?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.patreon.com/Microtonalguitar/posts

Support us on Patreon! (If we get 60 patrons, episodes will be released regularly instead of sporadically)

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmYNMpemAIq8DnK5HJ9gsA

Hey all! Since Now&Xen is on hiatus, I wanted to give you some content anyway, so here's the last episode we had on as a Patreon exclusive! I may be releasing select Patreon-exclusive episodes during hiatus sometimes. This wonderful conversation features Subhraag and I talking about Infinitone DMT, an extremely exciting software that acts as the first really practical digital plugin just for retuning synths! Some examples of what it can do? Automate tuning parameters, like fundamental frequency. Shift between subsets of a tuning using similar automation. Calculate beating and de-tuning from a tuning-conscious perspective. For more, be sure to check it out soon at Infinitone.com! All of the musical examples (morsels) are composed by Subhraag and come from his first Infinitone DMT "demo" giving examples of different kinds of microtonal music that can be created using this software.

Support us on Patreon! (Stephen will return to making Now&Xen after 60)

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We dissect makam scales with Dr. Eric Ederer, using his fantastic instruments and deep knowledge of theory & praxis. Makam music uses a lot of different parameters to identify itself to its listeners, such as direction (seyir) and where the melody starts. There is a lot of analysis work that can be done in this field, especially in describing historically accurate modulation, and/or listing melodic tropes that indicate certain makams. Part of Dr. Ederer’s research involved recording how experts think about their own playing. We also talk about Just Intonation, the history of the oud, and “improvisation” (or not). Other amusements include the licc in Husseini, Pythagoras in general, and kings that brag about being able to bench press cattle as well as tune a lyre. 

Music

Intro: Beyati Çiftetelli - Eric Ederer

Makam - Eric Ederer

Outro: Muwashshah Without Words #1 Bayyati Nawa - Eric Ederer

Socials (YouTube, website)

https://www.youtube.com/user/zeke1923

http://ericederer.com/

Support us on Patreon! (Stephen will return to making Now&Xen after 60)

https://www.patreon.com/nowandxen

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmYNMpemAIq8DnK5HJ9gsA

This is the last public episode until my hiatus from Now&Xen. Thank you all for listening and supporting! I couldn’t have kept on making these without the incredible generosity and positivity that the microtonal community has thrown my way! 

-Stephen Weigel