listen up

The following excerpts from selected films and theater productions feature original music by CK Barlow. Headphones are good. Real speakers at real volumes are even better.

"Motherland" prod. by Theater Grottesco

"Wings"

Dir. Julie Reichert, DP Corey Weintraub

Renzo (left) makes a decision about the course of his life.

Mellow hip-hop.

Josef and Renzo find common ground.

Klezmer meets Latin meets hip-hop.

No joke. Based on themes already used in the film. Violin performed by Jacquelyn Cieslak; trumpet Sonia Russo.

"Simple Sixteen"

Dir. Tyrrell Cummings

A day in the life of a 16-year-old is not so simple.

The main character spends (almost) the entire movie wearing headphones; CK provided the soundscape.

Trance.

She finally sees something bigger than herself and the headphones come off.

Guitar rock.

"Pipes"

Dir. Julie Reichert; DP Corey Weintraub

Vivian faces the facts: her pipes are frozen, literally and figuratively.

Ambient using found metal sounds, guitar-string scratches, and a sample of the actor's singing voice.

Ambient.

"Macbeth"

Dir. Chad Brummett

Military drums, heartwrenching themes and hints at insanity dominate this soundtrack.

Epic / military / horror.

"Elevator Music"

Images by Bryan Konefsky; live sound accompaniment by CK Barlow.

All sounds based on Barlow's recordings of elevator machinery. Excerpted from performance at the Digital Arts Ranch, Tempe, AZ.

See a really pretty video excerpt here.

Experimental / Ambient.

"Moth TV"

Images by Hue Walker; live sound accompaniment by CK Barlow.

All sounds based on Barlow's 30-second recording of a moth trapped (accidentally) in a rice-paper lampshade. No moths were harmed in the making of this soundtrack. Really.

Experimental / Ambient.

"Harry the Magnificent"

By Dustin McGowan. In this award-winning children's play, a boy re-imagines his alcoholic father as a magician with a great disappearing act.

A drunken calliope drives an orchestral theme and related scene-change music.

"The Glorious and Bloodthirsty Billy the Kid..."

By Tricklock Theater

Note: Three excerpts in one sound file. Late 1800s brass bands (behind the crowd sounds), edgy Latin romps, and an ambient love scene just before Billy's death alluding to his favorite song, "Silver Threads Among the Gold."

Chad Brummett's "Frankenstein"

CK dusted off the voice-leading textbook and composed Baroque-style string quartets for this moving one-man adaptation of the classic by our favorite "3:10 to Yuma" actor.

[In performance, a live string quartet was used, but the only recording was stolen with my minidisc recorder. Sorry... - ck]

Mac Wellman's "Dracula"

Chant composed in 16c style, twisted vampyrette waltzes, and - per Wellman's specifications - a dirge turned surf tune.