Ben Hjertmann
Music Composition, Teaching, Recording, Instrument Building
Visitors (2021)
Visitors was written for Emmalee Hunnicutt & myself.
Emmalee Hunnicutt: Cello, Voice, Chord-Zither (1)
Ben Hjertmann: Voice, Pedal Steel Guitar (4,7), Slide (1) & Fretless (3,6) Guitars, Bowed Psaltery (5), Scale-Zither (2)
____
In total, 78 unique pitches (pitch-classes) are performed. Each song contains unique pitch limits, designs, scales, and chords, which are all interrelated with consonant Just intervals.
The lyrics, written by the composer, are poetic reflections about visits from animals.
The full recorded album and score are available for purchase at benhjertmann.bandcamp.com
Explore below to see videos, Just Intonation theory, and more...
The video below Who Cooks for You? features one of the songs with original "crankie" needlefelted stop-motion by Emmalee Hunnicutt.
The next video below, Vulture in a Desert of Men, is the first live performance from Hopscotch Festival 2020.
The last video below, Luna Mirage, is also from the Hopscotch Festival 2020.
Below are pages from the score (included with purchase of the album on bandcamp),
including theory and performance notes, plus the first page of each song.