Lately I’ve been recording harmonium directly onto my iPad using an attachable condenser mic. Improvised harmonium is used as the foundation. I then load the track into my DAW and proceed to improvise even more using bit-crushed theremin samples soaked in reverb. First I run Thumbjam into Samplr and improvise using theremin and piano sounds. Then I run my loaded Samplr into Turnado and play with effects (expressively) while recording into my DAW.
My new workflow is the result of wanting to be more expressive. I want to record my automatic impulses. My goal is to create a body of work which resembles action painting. The harmonium responds extremely well to my movements. I feel as if it is truly an extension of myself. I have so much control over the sounds it emits. Creating a crescendo with a harmonium is extremely simple while improvising. I can simply apply more force when pumping. When playing harmonium, I feel as if I am sonifying my energy.
I coined the term sonic expressionism in reaction towards laptop composition and mainstream controllerism. Sonic expressionism is the idea that every aspect of composition should be improvised. This includes textures as well as melodies. For the electronic parts of my compositions, I use an iPad, because it allows for gestural expressionism. The way my hands move is innately unique and I want to capture that in my music. True expressionism is all about spontaneity. We should use art to reveal the unfiltered aspects of our minds.
fahad baseer 