vogelscheiss: chuck graef’s sonic blog

Click the image at left to access the Symphony at the iTunes store.

Alexander Borodin

Had my symphony described to me as being “like Borodin on acid.”  “What was that?  It was like Borodin on acid.” I like that.  Who wouldn’t like that?

A chemical which, if ingested by Borodin's music, could conceivably alter said music in such a manner that it thereafter sounded something like my symphony, according to the referenced source.

Here’s an excerpt from Symphony #1, Movt. 5.  This excerpt begins about 13 minutes into the movement.

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Here’s an excerpt from Symphony #1, Movt. 3.  This excerpt begins about 4 minutes into the movement.

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Strongly emotive full-scale symphonic work in 5 movements, 61 mins.:

1. Movt. 1: Largo lacrimoso
2. Movt. 2: Scherzando - Presto agitato con fuoco
3. Movt. 3: Andante cantibile - Allegro
4. Movt. 4: Scherzo
5. Movt 5: Adagio grandioso - Andante luttoso - Allegro con brio

The symphony is on a grand scale, more than leaning toward the heroic, featuring enlarged percussion and brass sections and piano.

The Scherzo is the symphony’s light comic relief, and can function by itself as a standalone piece.  Hear it below (two other clips can be heard here and here):

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Quasi-religious French Romantic choral music in the style of Faure’s Requiem, text in Latin. This would be the last movement. EWQL SO Gold XP Pro, EWQL Symphonic Choirs, Reaktor (Steam Pipe instrument pipe organ).

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Currently scoring a series of video episodes titled Z.E.R.O.: War of the Dead, following the adventures of a ragtag paramilitary team of zombie-hunters. The series is produced by Spherewerx Media in association with Fangoria TV.

See a clip here:

Hear my theme music for the series:

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Completed music for a film produced by Calvin Klein to showcase its Spring 2007 womenswear collection designed by CFDA Designer Of The Year, Francisco Costa.  Over the fall, the film is being screened in Paris, Milan, and other european cities, as well as at the CK Summit in Shanghai.  Chris Romero directed.

Sample below:

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Quick and jazzy.  Kick Ass Brass, EWQL Colossus, EWQL Symphonic Orchestra XP Pro, Stylus RMX, Atmosphere, Trilogy, Reaktor 5.

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I recently had the privilege of providing music for The 2006 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Film, which is now available for download as a podcast from iTunes.

The film was played on Monday, June 5th, 2006 in New York as part of the awards ceremony - often called “The Oscars of Fashion” - which included such fashion-loving celebrity presenters as Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Keys, John Legend and Lindsay Lohan, mixing with fashion names such as Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Karl Lagerfeld, Vera Wang, Proenza Schouler and Zac Posen (thanks to Adrian Romero for that description).

I worked closely with writer-director Chris Romero to create a new version of my piece Stonfluent Smansion under very tight timing, about which he was kind enough to say in his own announcement, “Charles put in a huge effort and did an amazing job on the remix of his track with less than a day’s notice. He is a hugely talented guy and I am extremely grateful.” Back atcha, Chris. The music heard on a radio at the beginning of the film is by songwriter and killer guitarist Adrian Romero.