Klarinet Archive - Posting 000059.txt from 1994/06

From: Elisabeth M Kelvin <kelvinel@-----.EDU>
Subj: EWI potential
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 1994 16:55:31 -0400

I have an AKAI EWI and have found that it is a difficult instrument to
learn...well. Two points that discourage people to learn or continue to learn
these instruments are, I believe, are related to the almost limitless potential
of sound, virtuosity andapplication and the lack of a repertoire.
Far from being frustrated by the poor replications of acoustic instruments a
performer is able to relish the thought and put into action many new sounds
which in themselves may not be that big a deal musically but do influence the
type of music that may be created based on them. The sound module is just a
"door opener" to the world of midi sounds as you can hook up any other sounds
to the instrument via midi. I have recorded voices, manipulated them through
the Alchemy and Performer programs for MacIntosh computer, and played these
altered voices through the EWI. some concepts of playing a wind intrument are
altered but the fundemental one remains- breathing. Breathe control is
exquisitely incorporated into the manipulation of a sound, whether it is a
simulated orchestra or a smashing mirror. The breath controls much of the way
the sample sounds.
Now will some composer out there PLEASE write some EWI music for me?
ELisabeth Kelvin