St. James

In the mid-1990s I had an idea to create a recording of pieces that explored rhythm in an unconventional manner. Of the eight pieces that made it onto Passing Time St. James is the most rhythmically complex.

Passing Time

200 Beat Cycle

The most difficult phrase to follow is the guitar. The part is comprised of a steady flow of 1/8th notes that are grouped in twos and threes. The main rhythmic cell is in 5/8, or 2+3/8 which I count: 12 | 123.

Form

The binary structure (2 sections) of St. James is laid out in the guitar part. The other instruments fit into it in distinct ways. The accordion maintains a melody throughout both sections (based on a 10-bar snare drum part). The saxophone and double bass interlace melodies in a variety of meters unrelated to the guitar. The drum set responds to the guitar’s structure, at first outlining it and then using it as a creative spring board. The percussion interacts with the guitar part using bright metallic sounds.

Guitar Part

||: 4/8 E7sus |E7sus |E7sus |E7sus |E7sus |3/8 E7sus (23 beats)

2+3/8 G7sus A7sus | A7sus | A7sus | A7sus | (20 beats)

4+3/8 G7sus A7sus | 3+2/8  A7sus | A7sus | A7sus |(22 beats)

2+3/8 G7sus A7sus | A7sus | A7sus |  A7sus |(20 beats)

4+3/8 G7sus A7sus | 3+2/8  A7sus | A7sus |  A7sus |(22 beats)

2+3/8 G7sus A7sus | (5 beats)

2+3/8 C7sus D7sus | D7sus | D7sus | D7sus | (20 beats)

4+3/8 C7sus D7sus | 3+2/8 D7sus | D7sus | D7sus| (22 beats)

2+3/8 C7sus D7sus | D7sus | D7sus | D7sus | (20 beats)

4+3/8 C7sus D7sus | 3+2/8 D7sus | D7sus | D7sus| (22 beats)

4/8   D7sus : || (4 beats)

Movie/Music

Chuck Samuels created a video for St. James.

Reproduction

I have another collection of tunes ready to be recorded for a follow up album called Reproduction. Here the pieces explore a different orchestration, including Indian and Indonesian instruments. I hope to have this done once the P minor blue is published.