Stavros Gasparatos - Expanded Piano
(Ad Noiseam)



Tracklist
01. Vincent
02. First Hit
03. Tchaikovsky
04. 3C
05. Browning
06. Tok
07. The Orphan
08. Mini Theme
09. M
10. Scrape

Release Date
21st August 2015

Buy it on Bandcamp
Stavros Gasparatos - Expanded Piano







Press Release
Recorded live in 2014 at the prestigious EMPAC hall in Troy, NY, the second album on Ad Noiseam by the greek composer Stavros Gasparatos departs from his usual soundtrack-oriented works. A highly conceptual piece, "Expanded Piano” explores the wide array of sounds which can be produced by this instrument and contextualizes them in the context of modern electronic music. Surrounded by 24 speakers fed by 24 microphones capturing everything happening inside the piano, the audience is placed in the middle of an uncommon yet highly touching sound-scape. "Expanded Piano” is an encompassing, abstract but emotional album which confirms Stavros Gasparatos's originality and talent.
"Expanded Piano” is a recording of a live performance by Stavros Gasparatos, commissioned for the EMPAC (the art venue of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, NY). It was recorded during a unique live show on November 27th 2014, with Stavros Gasparatos alone on stage. The 24 channel original recording was mixed to stereo for this album, though a surround sound version is available for download.
Compared to Stavros Gasparatos's previous album on Ad Noiseam ("Seven”, 2013), "Expanded Piano” revolves around an aesthetic concept rather than a narrative and was made to be played by one musician only. In this work, Stavros Gasparatos first extends the piano as an instrument beyond its accepted use: by hitting its wooden body, by hammering or caressing the strings, he creates uncommon sounds which are themselves digitally re-processed live. The second part of this performance (and arguably the most difficult one to render on an album) consists in morphing the piano itself into the venue: 24 microphones were placed in the room, linked to as many loudspeakers, enabling the audience to experience the sounds as if sitting inside the piano.
"Expanded Piano” also goes beyond its rules and technology, as Stavros Gasparatos does not only execute a concept, but creates a touching and highly evocative art piece. From the opening "Vincent” to the building energy of the closing "Scrape”, the album finds its place in today's emotional piano-based music and seduces its listener as much with its beauty as with its abstractions.
-
Premiered at EMPAC and recorded there for this album, "Expanded Piano” is however not made to be a one-off concert. Stavros Gasparatos is bringing this concept and this music to other venues, such as the equally prestigious Megaron Hall in Athens during the 2015 edition of the Epidaurus Festival.

Links
Artist: Website | Facebook
Label: Website | Facebook