Music Unfit for Human Consumption
Dante Palmieri
About this work:
About Music Unfit for Human Consumption (Written for the 6th annual contest hosted by the New Music Project of Kalamazoo, MI. The theme was pieces in the style of the band Mr. Bungle).
This piece was written as a commentary upon song form itself. The idea was to present the various parts of the form (Intro, Bridge, Verse, etc.) in a non-linear style by using genre as a variation. The major sections use primary material (themes that recur frequently with minor variations) while the others use ancillary thematic material (themes that vary greatly). This material is then reinterpreted by passing it through different styles, similar to using filters on a camera lens to alter the perception of a single object.
Great care was made to present the musical moments as a single entity despite their contrast. To do so, the underlying rhythm of the piece was shifted to a meta-principal from the more typical foreground. The song structure’s principals function largely according to expectation. Transitions link major points, the main theme is heard the most, etc., but I played with this some, to break up predictability. There are transitions that sounds like themes, vice versa, and some unexpected deviations upon the path . . . but this is what makes music interesting.
The title arose from a conversation I overheard about cat food, that it was the blend of products unfit for human consumption. The image of blending various substances into a whole stuck with me, and it seemed like an appropriate title for a work in the style of Mr. Bungle.
Dante Palmieri
Year composed: 2010
Duration: 00:06:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Voice with Chamber/Jazz Ensemble, 6-9 Players
Instrumentation: 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Drum Set, 1 Electric Bass, 1 Electric Guitar, 1 Other Voice
Instrumentation notes: There is no specific voice. The range is freely transposable to suit the singer. There are some elements of improvisation, but these occur according to specific guidelines. This piece requires effects units for the guitar.