Sean & Dave Make Music

The hilarious and legendary Todd Glass came over to play (virtually) this month! We talked about how his musical tastes developed, the performers he loves to watch for their showmanship, how he discovers new bands, and his relatively new-found love of ska. We also played a musical improv guessing game and premiered the swing-ska-James-Brown-inspired piece we wrote for Todd to use at his future live shows! This episode includes: 0:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Todd Glass (Todd on vocals, Dave on bass guitars and glockenspiel, Sean on tenor sax, ukulele, drums, and valve trombone) 8:11 Meow Meow Woof Woof (Let's Get Along) - Cover of Bob Marley's One Love (Sean on vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, Deeogee and Dunk on vocals) 25:00 Pete Holmes Smiling - Cover of Operation Ivy's Smiling featured on episode #343 of The Todd Glass Show (Sean on vocals, guitar, bass, and drums) 1:03:14 Nick Lepa Tells a Story or Three - Cover of Catch 22's Kristina She Don't Know I Exist (Sean on vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and valve trombone) 1:07:06 The Walkaround (Sean on flute, alto and tenor saxes, trumpet, valve trombone, guitar, ukulele, and percussion, Dave on bass and drum programming) 1:26:18 It's You I Like (Ska Punk Cover) written by Mr. Fred Rogers - (Sean on vocals, flutes, alto and tenor saxes, valve trombone, guitar, ukulele, and percussion, Dave on bass, Zachary Van Why on drums) 1:31:10 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Todd Glass (Todd on vocals, Dave on bass guitars and glockenspiel, Sean on tenor sax, ukulele, drums, and valve trombone) Visit ToddGlass.com for more about Todd Email sean.arawjo@gmail.com  for info on music lessons with Sean (flute, saxophone, clarinet, ukulele, composition/songwriting) Email davidtrum.composer@gmail.com for info on music lessons with Dave (composition, guitar, bass, drums, piano) Visit SeanArawjo.com for more ska, flute music, and podcasts. Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!  

Virtuosic and versatile opera singer Alize Francheska collaborated with us remotely for this episode! We had a great chat about her musical upbringing, influences, and the highlights of her career. We also created a beautiful and eclectic set of pieces together. Instead of improvising, we devised a round robin game and created our tracks one layer at a time. Huge thanks to Alize and all the work she put into this! Visit Alize's Website here Like her Facebook Page here Check out the Alter Ego Chamber Opera here This episode includes: 0:00 S&DMM Theme (Alize on Vocals, Sean on flute, and Dave on Electronics and Percussion) 08:13 For Riches and Rank I do not Long by Gilbert & Sullivan (Alize Vocal example) 21:02 Round Robin Track 1 (Sean on Ukulele, Alize on Vocals, Dave on Bass) 34:29 Round Robin Track 2 (Alize on Vocals, Dave on Piano, Sean on Flute) 35:57 Aye Said The Fly (Dave on Udu and Shaker, Alize on Vocals, Sean on Flute) 44:44 Round Robin Track 4 (Dave on Bass, Sean on Ukulele, Alize on Vocals) 53:41 I'd Rather Go Outside (Alize on Vocals, Sean on Vocals and Flute, Dave on Keys) 56:12 S&DMM Theme (Alize on Vocals, Sean on flute, and Dave on Electronics and Percussion) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

This month (well, it was actually pre-quarantine) we collaborated with guitarist/teacher/transcriber Evan Bradley! We talked about how he first got into music, what went into developing his skills and his sound, and how that path led him to working directly with some of his musical heroes. Evan's YouTube Page This episode includes: 00:00:00 S&DMM Theme in 7/8 feat. Evan Bradley (Evan on guitar, Sean on drums, Dave on bass and keys) 00:08:27 How It's Going To Be (Third Eye Blind solo guitar arrangement by Evan Bradley) Improvisation 3 (Evan on guitar, Sean on flute, Dave on djembe) Improvisation 4 (Evan on guitar, Sean on flute, Dave on djembe, synth bass, and synths) Improvisation 5 (Evan on guitar, Sean on flute, Dave on drumset) Improvisation 2 (Evan on guitar, Sean on flute, Dave on bass) Improvisation 6 (Evan on guitar, Sean on flute, Dave on drumset) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Philadelphia-based vocalist, songwriter/composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator Najwa Parkins joins us this episode! We talked about the making of her albums, her writing process and what inspires her. We also reminisced about playing Tuba Christmas '05, discussed our shared love of ska and reggae, and recorded songs in both those genres! PLUS, we got to witness Najwa's reaction to hearing Scatman (yes, that smash crossover hit from 1995) for the first time. What a treat! Najwa's Links: Official Site    YouTube   Spotify This episode includes: ****edit: the first release of this episode mistakenly included the studio version of Clouded Dreams instead of the live version**** 00:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Najwa Parkins (Najwa on vocals, Dave on guitar, Sean on bass guitar) 07:12 Clouded Dreams by Najwa Parkins (Najwa on vocals, Evan Gregor on bass, Larry McKenna on tenor sax, Skip Wilkins on piano, and Tom Whaley on drums) 18:14 Improvisation 1 - speed-composed chord progression, improvised melody (Najwa on vocals, Sean on ukulele, Dave on bass guitar) 28:13 Change Scares Me by Sara Murray and Sean Arawjo (Najwa on vocals, Dave on bass guitar, Sean on guitar, flute, alto and tenor saxes, clarinet, drums, and percussion) 37:00 Improvisation 2 - free (Najwa on vocals, Sean on flute, Dave on djembe) 50:57 Jolene by Dolly Parton - Reggae Cover (Najwa on vocals, Dave on bass guitar, Sean on guitar, keyboard, banjo ukulele, and percussion) Special thanks to Dan Pardo for the music suggestion! If you want in on the fun, email us at seananddavemakemusic@gmail.com to tell us what kind of music you want to hear next. Hear the original Sillyheart version of Change Scares Me here. Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

New music and exciting life updates from Sean & Dave!  This episode includes: 00:10 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme arranged, performed, and recorded by Dave Trum 04:18 Four Miniatures for Flute and Drum Kit by David Trum (Sean on flute, Dave on drums) 15:23 Juice by Lizzo arranged for beatbox flute by Sean Arawjo Purchase Sheet Music to this Juice arrangement here. 18:16 The Dollop: England and UK Theme by Gareth Reynolds and Sean Arawjo (Gareth on vocals, Sean on guitars, bass, and drums)  Download a recording of the Dollop: UK Theme here. 21:26 Clip from The Todd Glass Show: "SURPRISE! Its Jeremiah Watkins!" episode posted on 11-1-19 (Sean on flute playing Imagine by John Lennon, Todd Glass, and Jeremiah Watkins on vocals) 26:44 Adrift on the Seventh Sea by Sean Arawjo and David Trum  Purchase Sheet Music to Adrift on the Seventh Sea here. 31:30 Cycling on South Street (Sean on flute, ukulele, and percussion, Dave on bass and percussion) 35:16 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme arranged, performed, and recorded by Dave Trum Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

This month we welcome NYC-based composer, music director, pianist, orchestrator, and podcaster Anthony De Angelis! We talked about what jobs we'd have in an alternate universe, what Anthony likes about doing what he does, and about juggling the silly and serious aspects of his career and personality. We also collaborated on a story for Sean's other podcast Not Movies and the latest episode of that show, Who Stole Henry Winkler provides some fun (but absolutely not necessary) backstory for one of the pieces we present here.  Anthony's Links: Website - LMAYAQ Podcast - Instagram This episode includes: 00:00:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme arranged by Anthony Deangelis and Dave Trum (Anthony sequenced all the midi and Dave added sound clips and synth) 00:13:15 Enjoy The View from The Prince's New Pet (Music by Anthony DeAngelis, Lyrics by Christyn Budzyna) 00:25:20 The Permanent Style by Anthony De Angelis and EJ5000, additional vocals by The Gregaman 00:41:34 Strawberries Tonight by Anthony De Angelis 00:57:18 When I Meet The Fonz - by Anthony De Angelis and Sean Arawjo (Piano by Anthony, Flute and Saxophones by Sean, Drums and Bass by Dave, Vocals by Dan Pardo) ***Misophonia Warning***Mouth Sounds Ahead***Alert*** 01:22:56 Improvisation 1 (Anthony, Sean, and Dave: Mouth Sounds) 01:24:30 (Mouth Sounds End) 01:32:02 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme arranged by Anthony Deangelis and Dave Trum (Anthony sequenced all the midi and Dave added sound clips and synth) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

This month we get to know Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Jordan Gillis from Balitomore, MD! We improvised together, played one of his reggae originals, and talked about a range of topics. We learned about his influences, practice habits, background, and what he loves about making music full time.  Jordan's Website        Jordan's Facebook Brittany Lewis This episode includes: 0:00:00 S&DMM Theme feat. Jordan Gillis (Jordan on guitar, Dave on bass, Sean on drums) 0:00:56 Don't You Ever from 1000 Miles Acoustic by Jordan Gillis 0:19:37 Improvisation 1 (Jordan on guitar, Dave on djembe, Sean on flute) 0:30:53 Original Reggae song by Jordan Gillis (Jordan on guitar and vocals, Dave on bass, Sean on drums, guitar, and tenor sax 0:44:15 Improvisation 3 (Jordan on guitar, Dave on bass, Sean on flute) 0:56:22 Improvisation 2 (Jordan on acoustic guitar, Sean on flute, Dave on percussion)   Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!    

Composer/Performer/Host of the Boghouse (among many other things!) Melissa Dunphy welcomes us into her historic Philadelphia home to create some unique and beautiful sounds this episode. We talk about her long and circuitous journey to get where she is today, her compositional process, the current state of classical music, and her plans for the future.  MelissaDunphy.com  The Boghouse Podcast This episode includes: 00:00:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Melissa Dunphy (Melissa on Theremin, Dave on Percussion, Sean on Bottle and Toy Piano. Two separate takes were superimposed to create this version of the theme) 00:12:27 Under Ground (Melissa on Vocals and Toy Piano, Dave on Stylophone Beat Box, Sean on Ukulele) 00:23:31 Improvisation 1 (Melissa on Theremin, Sean on Flute, Dave on Found Percussion and Typewriter) 00:42:07 Improvisation 2 (Melissa on Viola, Dave on Stylophone Beat Box, Sean on Flute) 00:57:43 Improvisation 3 (Melissa on Viola, Sean on Flute, Dave on Found Percussion) 01:14:36 Improvisation 4 (Melissa on Stylophone and Vocals, Dave on Stylophone Beat Box, Sean on Ukulele) 01:18:01 00:00:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Melissa Dunphy  Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Choir director, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and music advocate Ben DiPette schools us on the ins and outs of the Pennsylvania education system. Ben draws on personal experience and talks passionately about the positive impact the arts have on students. And we made a bunch of fun, silly, and weird music!  This episode includes: 00:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Ben DiPette (Ben on drums and alto sax, Dave on keyboard, Sean on flute and percussion) 10:01 School Choice Blues (Ben on vocals and alto sax, Dave on djembe, Sean on banjo ukulele, washboard, bass drum, and hi-hat) 27:36 32 Years (Ben on vocals and keyboard, Dave on bass, Sean on drums, guitar, and tambourine) 42:44 Improvisation (Ben on drums, Dave on keyboard, Sean on flute) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Multi-instrumentalist songwriter Geoff Giordano stops in this month to jam and talk about his writing/producing process, his upcoming album Ultrafauna, and his compulsion to keep making music! Geoff's Fourth World Radio Site    Fourth World Radio Facebook      This episode includes: 00:00:00 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Geoff Giordano (Geoff on guitar, Dave on drums, Sean on flute, bass, and percussion) 00:11:40 Ultrafauna written, recorded, and mixed by Geoff Giordano 00:31:39 Game of Thrones Main Title Theme by Ramin Djawadi (Geoff on guitars, Dave on drums, Sean on flute, bass, and percussion) 00:43:38 Glitchcraft by Geoff Giordano (Geoff on guitars, Dave on bass, Sean on drums, tenor sax, and valve trombone) 00:52:58 Sean & Dave & Geoff Make [Jethro Tull] Music (Geoff on guitar, Dave on bass, Sean on flute and drums) 01:03:14 Sean & Dave Make Music Theme feat. Geoff Giordano (Geoff on guitar, Dave on drums, Sean on flute, bass, and percussion) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

This month we feature guest artist/producer, Stephen Kokas of Sketch Studio! We talk about the music industry, pop production techniques and trends, and then dive into making some hip hop music, a first for this podcast! More of Stephen's music: Sketch Studio BandCamp This episode includes: 0:00 S&DMM Theme feat. Stephen Kokas (Stephen on vocals, keyboard, production, Sean on flute, Dave on BGVs) 9:37 Geronimo (Stephen on vocals, keyboard, production, Sean on flute, Dave on drums) 22:14 Friendzone by Stephen Kokas featuring Jamall Anthony, Justin Aries and J. Mouzon 24:33 Woah Woah Woah [clip] from All You Can Do by Watsky 31:19 Dynasty of Destiny by Zorro Gato, C-Hann, and Amanda Jo : Video Link! 42:54 Something Like That (Sean on beatbox flute, Dave on Bass, Stephen on keyboard, production) 52:29 Heroes & Villains from One Letter Shor by Stephen Kokas Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook!

Pianist, Arranger, Transcriptionist, Music Director, host of Pardo's Turn, and old friend Dan Pardo joins us this month! We talk about his musical life and the projects he's involved in and improvise five very diverse sounding pieces.  Dan's Website Pardo's Turn Limericks of Resistance This episode includes: 00:00:00 S&DMM Theme (Dan on piano, Dave on bass, Sean on alto sax) 00:10:02 Improvisation 5 - Bluesish (Dan on piano, Dave on bass, Sean on beatbox flute) 00:21:39 No One Is Alone (Sondheim) arr. by Dan Pardo (Live performance from Ethnic Chameleons concert) 00:24:06 Coffee Break (Loesser) arr. by Dan Pardo (Live performance from How To Succees At Business Without Really Trying at the 5th Avenue Theater 00:35:04 Improvisation 4 - Expansive and Lyrical (Dan on piano, Dave on djembe, Sean on flute) 00:52:26 Improvisation 2 - Goofy and Dynamic (Dan on slide whistle, Sean on flute, Dave on tin can, water flasks, and emergency blanket) 01:12:37 Improvisation 3 - 6/8 Clusterfuck in Dm (Dan on piano, Dave on djembe and percussion, Sean on flute) 01:28:49 Improvisation 1 - Peaceful then Groovy (Dan on piano, Dave on djembe, Sean on flute) 01:42:15 S&DMM Theme (Dan on piano, Dave on bass, Sean on alto sax) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review us on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook! And if you like us, please tell your friends! 

World-renowned flutist, composer, inventor, and pedagogue Robert Dick joins us this month to improvise and talk about his recording process, his musical path, what he's been listening to lately, making a living by being creative, and lots more!  Explore more of Robert's music, books, and his Glissando Head Joint at RobertDick.net This episode includes: 00:00 S&DMM Theme feat. Robert Dick (Robert on vocals, Sean on flute, Dave on percussion) 09:35 Choose "Beuy's Blues" at Sue's by Robert Dick, Uli Johannes Kieckbusch & Alfred Zimmerlin from their 2017 album @ 22:54 Improvisation (Robert on flute with Glissando Head Joint, Sean on flute, Dave on tin can and flasks) 39:39 Improvisation (Robert on bass flute and vocals, Sean on flute) 01:00:30 Improvisation (Robert on bass flute, Sean on flute, Dave on djembe) 01:21:00 S&DMM Theme feat. Robert Dick Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review on iTunes, and like us on Facebook! And tell your friends! 

Singer, songwriter, activist, and all-around fun human Nellie McKay joins us this month in the first of our three episode run recorded in NYC! We had a blast talking about her musical process and stylistic evolution, our pets, the Poconos, David Byrne, and life in general. We also improvised and wrote some brand new music together. Check out all of Nellie's music and catch her live if you can!  Links: Nellie's Official Website - Nellie's Twitter This episode includes:  00:00 S&DMM Theme feat. Nellie McKay (Nellie on vocals, ukulele, and percussion, Sean and Dave on percussion) 08:13 My Romance by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart from Sister Orchid (2018) 21:06 This is Not the Year (for Mistletoe in the Workplace) by Sean Arawjo (Nellie on Vocals, Dan Pardo on vocals and piano, Dave on bells, Sean on vocals, guitar, uke, bass, drums, winds, and percussion) 27:17 Pigeon Love by Nellie McKay, Sean Arawjo, and Dave Trum (Nellie on vocals, ukulele, and claps, Sean on flute, guitars, drums, and claps, Dave on bass and claps) 38:10 Improvisation (Nellie on piano, Dave on djembe, Sean on flute)  54:42 S&DMM Theme feat. Nellie McKay (Nellie on vocals, ukulele, and percussion, Sean and Dave on percussion) 54:56 Identity Theft by Nellie McKay from Obligatory Villagers (2007) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review on iTunes, and like us on Facebook! And tell your friends! 

We talk about how excited we are for our upcoming New York trip and announce our next three guests: Dan Pardo, Robert Dick, and Nellie McKay!! This episode also includes: 07:27 Cincinnati Scrap (excerpt) by Dave Trum 09:56 Flute and Udu Duo (Sean & Dave) 13:23 Flute and Electric Guitar Duo (Sean & Dave) Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review on iTunes, and like us on Facebook! And tell your friends! 

Our guest this month, Tara Toms has been fascinated by sound her entire life and has spent the last several years exploring it in every way she can. An accomplished vocalist, songwriter, and free improviser, she releases solo music and also fronts a band called Weird Year. Find more by following the links below! This episode includes: 00:00:00 S&DMM Theme (Tara on vocals, kalimba, and electronics, Sean and Dave on percussion) 00:10:09 Improvisation 1 (Tara on vocals and electronics, Dave on bass, Sean on flute) 00:23:38 Improvisation 2 (Tara on vocals and electronics, Dave on bass, Sean on percussion) 00:36:49 Molasses (Tara on vocals and guitar, Sean on bass and drums) 00:47:24 Luna Moth (from Weird Year's upcoming album) 01:03:08 Sorry I'm Always Late (Tara on vocals and guitar, Sean on percussion) 01:04:55 S&DMM Theme feat Tara Toms Links: Weird Year Bandcamp Cata Mountain Mouth Bandcamp Tara Toms Bandcamp Darksoft

This month we bring you the second half of our concert/podcast series featuring David, Jodie, and Kaitlyn of illumine! They are an innovative and incredibly accomplished trio bringing new life to classical music all over the world. Learn more about out more about illumine here. Catch up on Part 1 here. This episode includes: 0:00 S&DMM+Illumine Theme - Arr. David Mathew Brown (2018) 1:55 Four Miniatures for Flute and Drum Kit – David Trum (2018) I: A playful, dancing movement inspired by Latin American rhythms. Listen for: •The ABA form of the piece (Theme – Contrasting Theme – Return) •The B section’s use of long tones to complement the active, busy rhythms of the A section *Sean Arawjo is the composer of the contrasting theme.  In the first edition of this piece, the B section was an open improvisation, but we loved one of Sean’s improvised melodies so much that it gradually became canon. II: A rhythmically driven movement that strikes a slightly sneaky tone. Listen for: •The first theme and second theme, which are in keys a tritone apart (G minor and Db Major), yielding fun, dramatic transitions •The points when the flute and drums are rhythmically in sync, versus other points where they play opposing one another, filling the gaps in each other’s phrases III: A quirky movement that showcases the flute’s extended techniques and welcomes the timbre of the hi-hat into the drums’ palate of sounds. Listen for: • The point after the first statement of the opening theme, immediately restated in rhythmic canon, with the drums delayed by two beats •The flute cadenza, involving harmonized singing while playing IV: A return to the danceable and grooving with a movement full of rhythmic surprises. Listen for: •Tom-toms, tuned specifically to provide bass notes that harmonize with the flute’s melodies •A saturation of rhythmic figures that play with cycles of 5 – for example, the opening: 1 2 34 5 – 1 2 3 4 5 – 1 2 – 1 2 3 4 20:25 Eternity is like unto a Ring – David Trum (2018) text by John Bunyan and the composer Program notes by the composer: “This piece is a reflection on the relationships between time, love, and eternity, with English writer John Bunyan’s poem ‘Upon Time and Eternity’ framing the work as the text for the first and final movements. The rest of the text is self-composed, though I pulled much inspiration from the writings of Robert Browning, Henry Thoreau, and C.S. Lewis. Just as ‘The Ring has no beginning, middle, end,’ this piece forgoes a linear narrative structure and instead exists largely within one musical moment, which is explored one layer at a time. This gradual unfolding of musical layers also parallels the introspective journey of the text, as it slowly proceeds from the universal to the more intimate and vulnerable. I have always loved music that plays with time and context- specifically the way that musical context can frame our experience of a melody or idea. The Sigur Rós EP, ‘Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do’ [consisting of three tracks of atmospheric electronic music that can be played simultaneously to make one new piece] has long inspired me to explore similar tricks within live, notated music. I am also a huge fan of the sound and aesthetic of backwards audio, as in classic psychedelic rock like Hendrix’s ‘Are You Experienced?’ and The Beatles ‘Tomorrow Never Knows.’ Through this new composition, I have been able to indulge in both of these passions. Over the course of the piece, musical motives and even whole movements overlay, intertwine, and appear in reverse- revealing new insights and relationships between them.” Text and structure schematic  37:15 Shower Thoughts – Sean Arawjo (2018) text by Reddit.com “Shower Thoughts” users – respectively – u/slimmaslam, u/JohnBolia, u/waterdam, u/OyVeyzMeir, u/Gilfmagnet The piece is based on a popular subreddit, wherein users share “miniature epiphanies” that they have, highlighting the oddities of the familiar. “Showerthought” is a loose term that applies to the types of thoughts you might have while carrying out a routine task like showering, driving, or daydreaming. At their best, Showerthoughts are universally relatable and find the amusing/interesting within the mundane. I: This introductory movement embraces the concept of minimalism in a few different ways. The instrumentation is a nod to minimalist icon Steve Reich, and can be performed on a budget of literally $0. The text is fragmented in a way that creates several distinct statements, each with a different meaning, out of one sentence. Listen for: •The irregular phrase length of the vocal line (12.5 beats), the beginning of which is punctuated by clapped accents in parts 4 and 5 throughout the piece. These accents always occur where the words “I’m Lucky” fall in the phrase, whether the vocal line is being stated or not. •The superimposition of the accents in parts 2 and 3 (every 8 beats), and the few times when the two groups of accents line up •The final statement, “I’m,” which stands alone as a complete sentence (“I am.”), and is the only word of the movement not accompanied by claps TEXT by u/slimmaslam: I’m lucky to be broke at a time when minimalism and sustainability are in style. II: This flowing, quirky waltz consists mostly of consonant harmonies intended to represent pleasing smells. The tuba is featured in this movement and was chosen mostly for its versatility, however its aural proximity to a certain type of bad smell was also a factor. Listen for: •The expansive range of the tuba, which begins its opening accompanimental figure in the low register (G1), then jumps up several octaves for a melodic solo in measure 5 •The flute taking over the second half of this melody in measure 9, as the tuba reverts to accompanimental material •A soaring vocal line, which is set in a high tessitura (range) – lending a measure of class and dignity to what is one of the sillier texts of the broader work •Rapid harmonic shifts that occur after the main theme, building intensity until the instrumental recapitulation TEXT by u/JohnBolia: One big difference between men and women is that when a woman says “Smell this…” it will usually smell nice. III: The ambiguous meter (often 5/4, but with frequent shifts) and atonality of this movement create a sense of unease, intended to evoke the feeling of being lost and afraid. Listen for: •A tenuous groove established early on by the drums •Extended flute techniques used throughout the piece: whistle tones, tongue stops, residual tones, and diffuse tones •Pointillistic texture, which becomes more active and chaotic, reaching its peak just before the final punchline TEXT by u/waterdam: Imagine being naked in a room with people speaking a different language, and they all want to touch you. That’s the life of a dog. IV: Movement four is a jazzy Christmas carol for the modern era. The repetitive text reflects the numerous and often similar stories of workplace (and everywhere-place) harassment brought to light since the #metoo movement began. In order to appeal to the widest audience possible with this important message, the harmonies, form, and style are all conventional. Listen for: •The theme, stated in the saxophone and violin parts prior to the vocal entrance, reinforcing its familiarity •A shift in the piano and drums, signaling the B section •An improvised section after the return to A, and before the vocal reprise TEXT by u/OyVeyzMeir: This is not the year for mistletoe in the workplace. V: Reading from a multi-colored graphic score in this movement gives each performer the freedom to interpret their own musical line. Listen for: •Three spoken iterations of the text, each with slightly different inflection •A steady rhythmic pulse emerging from the middle of the piece •The interaction between pitched instruments: they are sparse and atonal at the beginning and end, but establishing an F# tonal center in between TEXT by u/Gilfmagnet: Music is just wiggly air. 55:50 Improvisation 1 - Dreamy TEXT submitted by audience member: Sleep tight, sweet dreams, angels guide. 1:09:48 Improvisation 2 - Muscular TEXT submitted by audience member: Oh to have arms like Jodie!  Check out our other episodes, Subscribe, Rate, and Review on iTunes, and like us on Facebook! And tell your friends!   

 Our friends illumine join us this month to chat and present new works from our Eternal/Ephemeral concert series in June. illumine is: Kaitlyn Waterson (Mezzo-Soprano), David Brown (Violin), and Jodie Levine Brown (Piano).  David Brown arranged this month's theme and brilliantly incorporated themes from Sean and Dave's pieces (in addition to his own). Tune in to part two to hear how those themes develop! Find out more about illumine here. This episode includes: 0:00 S&DMM+Illumine Theme - Arr. David Mathew Brown (2018) 05:17 Improvisation - Illumine, Sean & Dave - Rainy, in C 07:27 Improvisation - Illumine, Sean & Dave - Reggae, in F# 18:17 Opposite Day – David Matthew Brown (2014) text, respectively, by Emily Dickinson, Robert Burns, an anonymous source, and the US Constitutional Committee of Style and Arrangement I: I Felt a Funeral in my Brain Brazenly opposing the text from the outset, Dickinson’s poem of agony and despair is bastardized by simple joyousness and frivolity. Listen for: •Shameless representations of laughter (ie. high registral piano, violin trills, and onomatopoeic laughter in the vocal part) •”Anti-Text Painting”: When the word is “down,” the music goes up; “beating” is represented by music box sounds, and “silence” is… definitively not silent •The use of the violin as an accompaniment instrument TEXT I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro Kept treading – treading – till it seemed That Sense was breaking through And when they all were seated, A Service, like a Drum Kept beating – beating – till I thought My mind was going numb And then I heard them lift a Box And creak across my Soul With those same Boots of Lead, again, Then Space – began to toll, As all the Heavens were a Bell, And Being, but an Ear, And I, and Silence, some strange Race, Wrecked, solitary, here And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down And hit a World, at every plunge, And Finished knowing – then II: A Red, Red Rose As sweet and romantic as the Dickinson poem is dark, Burns’ text is expressed through mechanical-sounding, unemotional, and sometimes atonal rigidity. Imagine a robot trying (and FAILING) to express love. Listen for: •A rigid vocal line, designed to obstruct expressiveness •”Sweetly played in tune,” which ends in an especially dissonant chord •Repetitive statements of “Dies Irae,” the most popular medieval doomsday chant TEXT O my Luve is like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve is like the melody That’s sweetly played in tune. So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry. Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun; I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run. And fare thee weel, my only luve! And fare thee weel awhile! And I will come again, my luve, Though it were ten thousand mile. III: Eeny, meeny, miny, moe This dopey children’s rhyme – the inspiration behind Opposite Day – is performed with severity and needless drama. Listen for: •Relationships between the opening violin line and both the main vocal theme and “Catch a tiger…” violin part •Depth and gravity provided by the piano tremolo on low B-flats •Sweeping piano figures and melismatic vocal/violin lines, behaving as though the “Catch a tiger…” text is something profound •Recitativo on “My mother…” for added drama TEXT Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go, Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. My mother says to pick the very best one, and that is Y-O-U! IV: The Preamble to the US Constitution Perhaps all of this irreverence could be remedied with a little patriotism. Listen for: •Again, frequent use of the violin as accompaniment – even omitting the piano for an extended section •A quote from the beginning of Gustav Mahler’s 1st symphony (played in piano chords), and a chord progression inspired by Anton Bruckner’s 4th – referencing two red-blooded American composers •Our National Anthem. Definitely. TEXT We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 42:25 Improvisation - Illumine, Sean & Dave - "Old men, old friends sit on a park bench like book ends" 45:02 Improvisation - Frolicsome, in A 1:02:48 The Chimes of the Golden House – David Matthew Brown (2018) text by the composer In honor of the composer’s recently deceased grandparents, I. Eagle & Rita D. Levine, “Chimes” is a poetic tribute to their unconventional union that resulted in a large, joyous, and musical family. Adorning the house in which Eagle and Rita raised and partially raised their grandchildren, was a collection of 8-day mechanical clocks – each of which chimed at contrasting intervals and pitches. This, paired with Rita’s gilded decor aesthetic, was the atmosphere in which so many lifelong memories and relationships were established – and from which so much music originated. Listen for: •Three distinct chimes: the Westminster chime of the steel tongue drum, the shrill chime of the triangle, and the oscillating chime of the piano •A structure bookended by joyousness and rhythm, representing the energy of the house – and later, that of those homes belonging to Eagle’s and Rita’s descendants (“descendants of the vintage melody”) •The static atmosphere created and in spite of dense orchestration during the line, “As dust, suspended…” •A short fugue, leading up to the word, “counterpoint,” as the voice narrates – according to the poem – the entrance of each instrument, relevant to the instruments played by the family •The use of the wooden backs of the drum mallets to create a colder, more stark effect during, “Stark bell tones…” •The espressivo piano solo that concludes the piece, representing the composer’s mother (illumine pianist, Jodie), who – through her parents’ passing – inherits the mantle of matriarch. This is followed by eight bell tones for the eight grandchildren who grew up in the “Golden House” TEXT Music begins as the hour is struck. Offset by age, a chorus of metal voices enters the discordant song of the inevitable. The heartbeat of the house tolls with many perspectives – some over, and others understated. Together, they are unlikely but beautiful. Unfettered by the perpetuity of the song, its audience – young and old, at play and at work – live joyously within its realm. As dust, suspended in rays of sun through the window, a timeless serenity exists between the hours. Deep, golden afternoons could be memories or dreams – vivid sentiments of an ethereal world. If not for the swing of the pendulum, surely no time would pass. And in this, the meaning of the song is obscured – for time does pass, and the song becomes increasingly beautiful. A piano joins, its own distinguished peal harmonizing – enlightening its predecessors. It beckons a procession of fiddles, then flutes, each bestowing new vitality – new meaning to the venerable music. Enshrouded in a benevolent counterpoint, the song achieves the impossible. So many years later, the instruments have departed from a house devoid of its once gilded hue. Stark bell tones now herald the hour in the predictable synchrony of solitude. And yet, they are the heartbeats of new homes, each with its own unlikely, beautiful perspectives and colors. Descendants of the vintage melody revel as in olden times, enchanted by nostalgia. The pendulum swings; voices come and go – but the chimes of the golden house are eternal. 1:13:54 S&DMM+Illumine Theme - Arr. David Mathew Brown (2018)

Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter/Brother Justin Arawjo stops in to collaborate this month! We talk about our shared musical history, Justin's compositional process, and he gives us some music recommendations.  This episode includes: 0:00 Episode 12 S&DMM Theme (Remix) 7:00 "I Collect Fire" by Justin Arawjo 16:21 "Suits and Lies" by Hammers To Fences 24:58 Composition 1 (Justin on guitar, Dave on Bass, Sean on Bells) 32:11 Improv/Comp 2 [Lyrics below] (Justin on drums and vocals, Sean on Guitars, Bass, Tenor Saxophone)  39:41 Improv 2 (Justin on Guitar, Dave on Djembe and Drums, Sean on Flute) 44:15 Episode 12 S&DMM Theme (Original)   Forever unanswered these questions die upon our lips These moments are history's cancer A memory carved on the side of our sinking ship   and if it's a problem of truth well, what is truth anyway? Anything they can say to absolve them of all of the guilt and the greed and the lies and the hate   Blasted out of frame the signal is the noise and we proliferate death I can barely breathe Your name is in my lungs We annihilate like stars across the burning void   The seeds are corrupted The fruit all rotting on the ground Any semblance of sense interrupted by synaptic impulses firing without a sound   Untenable average grows more mercurial by the day These teeth, grown feral and savage  will tear at the seams of the world that you wish to create   Blasted out of frame the signal is the noise and we contaminate life I can barely breathe Your name is in my lungs We annihilate like stars across the burning void   Check out our other episodes, rate and review us on iTunes, and like us on Facebook!

This month, we are proud to present the triumphant return of Sillyheart! Sara Murray, Sean's longtime friend and bandmate stops by and talks about music, life, and that time she accidentally called John Stamos 'Jesse'. This episode includes: 0:00 S&DMM Sillyheart Theme 7:31 Dog Walk 17:28 What Do You Do? 39:38 F*ckin' Hooray 45:17 Wrong Person 50:25 Just Fine Sillyheart Links: Bandcamp, Facebook Sara's Business: confetti & co. Check out our other episodes, rate and review us on iTunes, and like us on Facebook!