I had forgotten about these two short pieces for flute, ‘cello, and piano, written for my composition class at Oberlin Conservatory, back in 1972.  They seemed lively enough to keep, so I made a legible copy from the penciled antique.

[Read more →]

This melancholy little piece features the Tremoloa, a curious instrument once made by the Manufacturers Advertising Company, which has a single slack string played with a steel bar. On its first performance, I was joined by David Gold on viola, Ralph Hamperian on tuba, and Doug Roesch on guitar.

[Read more →]

A round about time.

[Read more →]

Aleister Crowley used to great carolers by flinging open the door and roaring, “To the lions with them!” This charming holiday tradition inspired the following round.  

[Read more →]

I often performed this vent bit with Eddie back in the ’90s, including, if memory serves, a couple of TV appearances.  Here’s an excerpt:

[Read more →]

A short piece for piano, based on diatonic 4-pitch and 7-pitch sets.  Here’s the beginning:

[Read more →]

In 1996, MTV decided to expand, by starting a second station called M2.  A number of bands were commissioned to write jingles using their slogan “24 more.”  White Knuckle Sandwich submitted three possibilities (one for each of us), and mine was chosen.  The 30 second spot used an elaborate set, a revolving camera, and a […]

[Read more →]

“Trash Cash” was another commission from the Tallgirls. I devised a series of interrelated scenes, accompanied by slides of my drawings. The floor was covered in pennies, which sparkled in the light, and crunched underfoot. I costumed the Tallgirls in white minidresses and go-go boots, which they all looked lovely in. There was also a […]

[Read more →]

Somehow, back in San Francisco in 1977, I did a “Thanksgiving Radio Special” on KPFA.  I read some pseudo-Americana, sang some songs, and brought my colleague Bill Irwin to demonstrate hat tricks and to chat with me.  I had recorded 78s from my collection on a portable tape recorder; and kept that fading in and […]

[Read more →]

A thoughtful round on life’s eternal verities.

[Read more →]