Editorial
Front Page - Friday, July 30, 2010
River City Roundabout
Striking a “dischord”
Erica Tuggle
Members of the New Dischord ensemble pit their instruments against one another in pieces like “Al vacio,” where vocals and oboe melody collide. The brainchild of Tim Hinck, this group debuted themselves at the Lindsay Street Hall in two weekend performances that included elements of performance, live art and expansion of what “classical music” encompasses.
- Erica Tuggle
Great swells of sound echoed throughout the historic Lindsay Street Hall Sunday afternoon as the summer sun glowed through the stained glass windows and illuminated the room. The local ensemble that made its debut here on July 9 and 11 call themselves “New Dischord,” and their sounds prove fresh and melodious in a matter of speaking.
The name “New Dischord” indicates that these artists are setting out to establish novel compositions with stylistic twists towards an alternative and avant-garde rendition on the previously established roots of classical music.
A mixture of local professional musicians that include college professors, students and those returning from their studies form this band. Their combined passion to change the ideas associated with the formal instruments and orchestral performance medium, have hit upon a resonance of a sound that is electrifying in its difference from what usually comes from the classical instruments they hold.
In with this, they mix demonstrations of live art performance, elaborate acts, and new ways of “playing” the instrument. A live art piece that was constructed during the first performance of New Dischord by artist Ashley Hamilton was on sale during their July 11 event.
The approximately ten ensemble members performing on July 11 brought percussion, guitar and amplifier, vocals, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, cello, piano, flute and computer sound together for their nine-song set.
They began with a piece called “Synth Madness Intro,” and, in all honesty, the title says it all. Although every member was playing instruments that are regaled and held in high and proper esteem as being those of classical music styles, in this piece these instruments were forced to work on a whole new level.
Starting out in a classic medley structure, the piece soon dissolved into what they called “constructed chaos.” It’s the kind of music that sounds so good and is ingeniously rhythmically layered, but at the same time you have to fight your first urge to put your hands over your hears to protect them against the crashing together of different sounds.
During this show, pieces from New Dischord composer Tim Hinck and guest performer, Aaron Roche, from New York City, were debuted. The pair is working together to release an EP in the fall that is a mixture of folk, religious, classical and untraditional tunes. Throughout the show, Hinck played the piano in a variety of ways that my piano teacher had never mentioned. He plunked on the keys, producing sometimes muted and varied sounds from alterations he had made within the piano’s frame, and then he would play within the piano, slapping the strings with a drum mallet and scraping at them with his fingers. This produced sounds akin to what can be heard on obscure alternative rock albums from the ’90s.
Roche, for his part, also varied his playing on the guitar with controls on the amplifier on some pieces to produce sounds like light interjections in a smooth speech. He also provided vocals for several songs with a voice that reminded me of the slow, folksy rhythm of singer for Iron and Wine, Samuel Beam.
Instruments were also placed head to head in some pieces during the show. Both instruments came out as winners when a clarinet and violin faced off in a piece by Scott McAllister called “X-Three.” Heather Schaffer also provided a lovely flute solo with accompaniment from a cello in a light, frenzied and sometimes solemn piece.
The alternative aspect of the genre that New Dischord is tapping into came out often in their show when instruments were literally taken apart (an oboe was played without sound or breath) and noise improvisations were mixed into an opera piece to create something that cannot very easily be categorized, but has elements of noise music, classical, and alternative intermingling.
The most startling of the pieces that I am referring to was called “Al vacio,” and featured an oboe and voice solo in opera style. Whether the pieces lead towards orchestral performance, folk song, or stage performance, it was evident that the players of the ensemble had infused their soul and passion into each piece and were trying for something different.
The venue itself offered something new as well, which makes sense as New Dischord claims to incorporate their venues into their shows as part of the experience. After a three-year restoration effort, the Lindsay Street Hall has opened. Housed in the former First Congressional Church on the corner of MLK and Lindsay, the spacious hall and its beauty in the structural elements, stained glass windows, and chandelier lighting provided an upscale and comfortable venue.
New Dischord is an act to watch as they begin their rise in Chattanooga. Their assault on the ears cannot be denied, and we look forward to hearing more. Email Erica Tuggle at reporter@hamiltoncountyherald.com.
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