MOG - David Ocker's Posts

This is not the title EITHER

David Ocker — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:19:36 GMT

This is not the title EITHER is a sequel to This is not the title, the previous post (or click here). Read more at Mixed Meters here.

The two pieces are exactly the same, except this one is longer and they have completely different notes and a different form and mostly different melodies (one is the same). The sequel also has a laugh track.

And the outside inspirations are different; this one steals very indirectly from an album by the Kocani Orkestar and also from pianist Art Tatum. Both influences should be easy to pick out in This is not the title EITHER.

AND this piece has lots of SEVENS. Enjoy.

This is not the title

David Ocker — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:24:26 GMT

The title of this piece claims that it is not the title. Try not to think about it.

Musically, the initial inspirations for this piece were rhythms from a country-mambo song, a fifties novelty tune about cavemen and a riff from a Tito Puente track. After that, things got weird.

There will be a sequel to This is not the title in a few days. Try to imagine what the title of the sequel is. Try to imagine what the title isn't. Try not to think about it.

Read way too much about This is not the title here.

I Should Be Doing Spanish Homework Because It's Due Today, But I Don't Feel Like It

David Ocker — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:02:04 GMT

This is another short piano piece - for a special sort of imaginary quarer-tone piano. It's kind of a sequel to the previous piano piece Live Chat.

The title comes from a high school student who wouldn't feel like listening to this music.

Live Chat

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:32:59 GMT

A one-minute solo piano piece for a piano with one prepared note.

Poof, You're A Pimp

David Ocker — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:37:53 GMT

Here it is! The long awaited (by no one) Poof, You're A Pimp

Not sure you want to listen to all 12 minutes? Click here to listen to the trailer I uploaded way back in March. That will help you decide how to spend your valuable listening time.

Poof You're A Pimp lasts one fifth of an hour.

Picture and music© 2008 by David Ocker

Happy To Be In A Place Where They Still Wear Shoes (for Paul Bailey)

David Ocker — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:38:51 GMT

Last week I had caffeine and conversation in Old Pasadena with composer Paul Bailey. In our pleasant lively discussion he described a performer who was glad to have joined his ensemble (PBE) where some of the more standard musical niceties (like written music) were still observed.

In reaction to the phrase he used I immediately responded "That would be a great title for a piece." And so it is.

Here's a picture I took in Old Pasadena that day.

Ojai Music Festival - Important Outdoor Concert

David Ocker — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:46:48 GMT

I got invited to Bloggers Night at the important Ojai music festival - held every early June in a rickety old bandshell in Ojai California. Apparently they think that if I write about the festival on my blog Mixed Meters they'll come up a winner. Pretty funny.

Instead of attending the concert of music by Steve Reich (which held little interest for me) I hiked to Starbucks with my laptop and wrote a 30 Second Spot entitled "Ojai Music Festival - Important Outdoor Concert" And it goes like this...
Read about my motivation to write this piece at Mixed Meters
Picture and Music Copyright (c) 2008 David Ocker

Golia LaBerge Ocker Trio - Improv #3

David Ocker — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:28:07 GMT

Vinny Golia - woodwinds Anne LaBerge - flutes David Ocker - clarinets

recorded in studio Feburary 17, 1986; all sounds produced by wind instruments, no electronic modification
Vinny's Nine Winds records
Anne's homepage -AnneLaBerge.com
David's Mixed Meters dot com

Golia LaBerge Ocker Trio - Improv #11

David Ocker — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:13:28 GMT

Golia LaBerge Ocker trio - Improv #12

David Ocker — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:08:20 GMT

The Nurkle (for Vinny)

David Ocker — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:28:04 GMT

Vinny Golia, who plays hundreds of wind instruments, is a record label mogul, a band leader and Professor of Making Up Music at Cal Arts, asked me to talk to his class in "Career Design".

At one point that day he used the word "nurkle" - which is either a German technical term for the part of a piano which prevents it from closing or a word for a thing which otherwise has no name.
In either case I decided there needed to be a piece of music to immortalize the "nurkle" - and this is it.

Vinny's the guy in the picture. His label is called Nine Winds. Soon I'll post 3 improvisations that he and I and flutist Anne LaBerge played when we were younger.
The Nurkle (for Vinny) and the picture are (c) 2008 David Ocker

Idle Idol's Idyll from Wagner and Schubert Have Intercourse

David Ocker — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:09:29 GMT

This is the fourth movement of a long work entitled Wagner and Schubert Have Intercourse.
The whole thing is described in this post at my blog Mixed Meters. If you're interested you can download all the movements there.

Poof, You're A Pimp (Trailer)

David Ocker — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:55:59 GMT

To generate artificial suspense and publicity for a twelve minute long piece entitled Poof, You're A Pimp which I've just finished, I created a Trailer for it.
Yes, just like those endless trailers in the movie theaters before the main feature, I've lifted tiny little bits from the larger work and compressed them into a dangerously misleading melange which approaches being completely unrepresentative of the actual music.
Top that off with the pompous voice of an announcer (er, me, trying to be pompous) whose job is to convince you that THIS SIMPLY CANNOT BE MISSED.
And there you have it - Advertising in America.

The full version of Poof, You're A Pimp will appear on my blog, Mixed Meters, sometime in April or May. Or whenever I feel like it.
Music and Picture Copyright (c) by David Ocker. The Teddy Bear in Leather Cookie was created by my friend Albert Marsh.

For Just LIke Two Minutes

David Ocker — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:54:08 GMT

In spite of the title this is only 41 seconds long. Composed March 19, 2008 in a Valencia, California, Starbucks. The picture is a close up of the California Institute of the Arts building.

Laugh Track

David Ocker — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:47:25 GMT

The audio sample in this 75-second piece is theater director Peter Sellars laughing. It comes from an interview last summer on the BBC. Read about Peter Sellars here.

Music and Photo (c) David Ocker

The Rhino's Medallion

David Ocker — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:45:45 GMT

I've combined the music of two of my previous short pieces into this one. It may, or may not, be helpful to listen to those first. The two source pieces are: The Medallion and Flight of the Rhino

The process of "combining" the two into one might, or might not, be like a "mashup" or "remix" or "montage" or "collage". The important different from any of those is that I did not mix using audio but by using music notation. Then I worked hard to make the two work together musically or not. There's a bit of all new material at the end.

Music and Picture (c) David Ocker

I think the statue in this picture - a woman with a horse-like ass playing a violin - is absurd, comic and misogynistic. I would have bought it for our kitsch korner, but even at half price $40 was too expensive.

Jingle Bills

David Ocker — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:05:44 GMT

The shortest version of Jingle Bells ever. (30 seconds) Also the least satisfying. Kinda jazzy though.

See more pictures of Christmas Penguins here. Read more of my rantings on these subjects here.
Listen to more of my Christmas? music based on the same tune here.

Picture and music Copyright (c) 2007 David Ocker

Boarding Pass

David Ocker — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:10:09 GMT

Boarding Pass was written on December 1, 2007, in the San Jose International Airport while waiting for my plane to Burbank.

The picture is actually from the Burbank Airport - but I think it conveys the proper aura of concourse-ness.

Music & Picture (c) 2007 David Ocker

More about Boarding Pass here.

Flight of the Rhino

David Ocker — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:26:54 GMT

The title was suggested, with considerable animation, by Israel, another Starbucks Barista, as an alternative to the previous title The Medallion. I opted not to waste a title and created this piece to put it on.

Picture and Music Copyright (c) December 4, 2007 - David Ocker

The Medallion

David Ocker — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:30:52 GMT

This 30 second piece of music and this Stanford University Storm Drain Cover have nothing to do with one another - except that the storm drain cover sort of looks like it might be a medallion, whatever that's worth.

Nothing is set in stone, of course.
Click here for more info at Mixed Meters.
Photos and music are copyright (c) David Ocker

Dinkelspiel

David Ocker — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:29:03 GMT

This piece was inspired by the name of Dinkelspiel Auditorium at Stanford University. I guess it means "Play a Dinkel". But what is a dinkel? Click here for an answer.
With a name like Dinkelspiel it just has to be music. Listen for the three-chord "Dinkelspiel Theme".
Thanks to one of these people for finding out the meaning of dinkel by using the Internet.

Music and Photo (c) David Ocker

OK

David Ocker — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:52:07 GMT

It's not great. It's just OK.

36 seconds
Music and Photo Copyright© 2007 David Ocker

Here's the Mixed Meters post about this piece.

Three PIeces In the Shape of Chowderhead's Genitalia

David Ocker — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:32:48 GMT

I wrote an blog article entitled Dog Balls and Elizabethan Collars. It's about our dog Chowderhead being neutered.
Later a reader wrote to suggest there should be a "Symphony for Chowderhead's Testicles". My wife said the music should be "bouncy".
And here it is. I created a piece for each testicle plus I added another piece of music for the remaining bit.
The three pieces are all in one file and total time is less than 2 minutes.
The movements are titled: 1) Left Ball 2) Penis 3) Right Ball

That's the Point of It - Extended

David Ocker — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:42:59 GMT

After a while this piece ends, but then it keeps going: it gets extended. Either that or it's about using a mechanical pencil. Whichever you prefer.

Here's the unhelpful Mixed Meters post about this piece.

Music and Photos (c) Copyright David Ocker

By Then She Would Have Slept With Him

David Ocker — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:17:06 GMT

The title is just something I overheard in Starbucks.

Click here to read about this piece at Mixed Meters.

Picture and Music (c) Copyright David Ocker

Walking Room Rainbow

David Ocker — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 22:58:45 GMT

Probably the only 30 Second Spot that could actually be performed. Just a solo guitar.

Click here to see the Mixed Meters post about this piece (and to find out how it relates to Tommy's Chiliburgers.
Picture and Music (c) Copyright David Ocker

Voluntary Solitude

David Ocker — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:36:22 GMT

This was composed and performed in 1975 when I was a befuddled graduate student at an Institution. All the sound is created by one clarinet (that's me). It took an awful lot of 1975-ish electronics to create the rest of it.
You can read the story here. It's a Very Sad Story. (Be sure to scroll down for the link to the Kraftwerk video - also 1975-ish.)
(Be careful when you play this music!! It's not for casual listening. The opening is just plain annoying - simply a clarinet long tone with no vibrato. And then there's the ring modulation. Leslie, my dear wife, refused to listen for very long. But if you can stay until the "tune" starts I think you'll be okay. Please leave complaints and comments below.)

Music and Picture (c) Copyright David Ocker

The Laptop in Live Performance

David Ocker — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:22:50 GMT

Inspired by all the silliness and phony futurism of musicians and music critics so enamored (or appalled) by the use of laptops in, you guessed it, live performance.
C'mon guys. It's just another instrument. Click here to read the whole post. It goes on and on.

Music and Picture (c) Copyright David Ocker

Flakes (Desiccant)

David Ocker — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:14:58 GMT

This is an outtake (from a 13 minute piece entitled "Eating the Desiccant" which I think is too good to put on the Internet. You'll probably never know if I'm right or not. This little bit wasn't good enough to keep.)

This post at Mixed Meters has less information about it and, alas, the link to the most fabulous video mashup ever by Kel McKeown no longer works. Bummer.
What's a "desiccant"?

Music & Picture (c) Copyright David Ocker

Oh, Was He Still Around?

David Ocker — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:02:08 GMT

The title of this piece was my reaction to the death of some famous European composer (or other) who was no longer relevant (at least to me).

Read more about it in this Mixed Meters post which also contains links to a fascinating Alex Ross article about Morton Feldman (who is relevant). And some other stuff.

Music and picture (c) David Ocker

The Cross Is So Frickin' Cool

David Ocker — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:27:31 GMT

Read about the title and about Gilles Apap at Mixed Meters

Picture & Music (c) Copyright David Ocker

Model A Mazda

David Ocker — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:18:35 GMT

The only 30 Second Spot less than 30 seconds long.
Click for the Mixed Meters Model A Mazda Message

Picture & Music (c) Copyright David Ocker

Fang Man's Blues

David Ocker — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:26:46 GMT

I confess, it's not nice to make fun of someone's name - but she is a composer so she can probably take it.

Here's her website.
You can listen to Hangman's Blues here.
Read about Fang Man's Blues at Mixed Meters

Music & Picture (c) Copryright by David Ocker

What Would Barbie Sing?

David Ocker — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:23:13 GMT

Here are the lyrics (you'll have to sing them yourself):
What Would Barbie Sing? (verse) I'm Barbie. I'm Barbie What would I sing for you? (chorus) Math is hard. (verse) I'm sexy And plastic, And Christian through and through. (chorus) Math is hard. Math is hard.

Read about What Would Barbie Sing? at Mixed Meters.
Suicide Barbie by Simon Tsyzko is discussed in this other Mixed Meters post called The Power of Commercials; The Supply of Virgins
Music copyright (c) David Ocker

That's Not Your Baby Concerto - Long Version

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:27:04 GMT

This is the expanded version of That's Not Your Baby Concerto. Listen to the short version here.

You can read all about both That's Not Your Baby Concertos here.

Music and Picture Copyright (c) David Ocker

That's Not Your Baby Concerto - long version

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:21:23 GMT

There are two versions of the same music - this is the long version. The other version really is only 30 seconds long. Listen here.

Read 'bout both That's Not Your Baby Concertos here.

Music and picture (c) David Ocker

That's Not Your Baby Concerto

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:12:59 GMT

This is the short version. The long version is here. You can compare and contrast them - if you're a compare and contrast sort of person.

Here's the Mixed Meters post explaining both That's Not Your Baby Concertos.

Music and picture (c) David Ocker

Something I Need to Discuss with Arnold

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:30:36 GMT

No. Not THAT Arnold. Click here to read the Mixed Meters post about which Arnold is referred to by this title. And which Arnolds aren't.

Mozart and Microsoft - Early Death?

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:24:19 GMT

Inspired by a day of frustration and the hope that, just as humans must die eventually, so will corporations. Read more about it at Mixed Meters

Music and photo (c) David Ocker

Clock Time

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:09:30 GMT

An Infuriating Concerto for Woodblocks.

Mean Burn

David Ocker — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:01:48 GMT

Okay, at one minute 28 seconds, it's a long 30 Second Spot. I apologize if this bothers you. It's not really my problem.

Read more about Mean Burn at Mixed Meters. (The Calvin and Hobbs link is also recommended.

This is a picture of Big Boy, sitting on my lap, enjoying himself.
Music and photo© David Ocker

Carpool

David Ocker — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:53:13 GMT

I got the idea for the meter of this piece from listening to music on an Afghani radio station over the Internet. It might have been this one.

This is a picture of Art Jarvinen's corkscrew.

Jihadist Boogie

David Ocker — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:20:50 GMT

It's not a boogie. Nope.
It's not jihadist. Nope. (at least I don't think it is.)
Figuring out what it isn't is the easy part.

Here's the Mixed Meters' post about Jihadist Boogie which asks the question "If a bomb explodes in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make any sound?"

The Gray Song

David Ocker — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:23:48 GMT

I remember thinking how easy it would be to turn this into a never ending piece of electronica. But I resisted the urge and now you will waste less than one minute listening to it.

Click here to read about The Gray Song at Mixed Meters

Macaca's Jewish Mama

David Ocker — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:54:16 GMT

In honor of Senator George Allen, Republican, who discovered too late in life that he might have to hate himself (because he never knew that his mother was actually Jewish).

Read about Macaca's Jewish Mama at Mixed Meters

In America Everyone Is A Great Artist

David Ocker — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:16:05 GMT

This is a combination of two types of music I don't like - 12-tone and country.

In America I can take two kinds of music I don't like and combine them into one piece you don't like.

Is this a great country, or what?

Mixed Meters - Life Is Too Short To Listen to Ugly Music

The Gray Song

David Ocker — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:18:02 GMT

This is part of my mysterious, unavailable album "30 Second Spots and Eating the Desiccant"

Actually, this upload is a test mostly.

Please visit Mixed Meters - Life Is Too Short To Listen to Ugly Music

My Non-Mog Blog

David Ocker — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:16:42 GMT

My Blog Is Titled "Mixed Meters."

My Blog Is Sub-Titled "Life Is Too Short To Listen To Ugly Music"

You'll find my music and my pictures and my writings - mostly about music. And other stuff mostly about me.

It's all rather egotistical really.

Click Here to go to Mixed Meters