Michael Skillern: Two Hands, a Shell, and a Keyboard

Schedule

Tue Feb 14 2023 at 07:30 pm

Location

NYUAD Arts Center | Abu Dhabi, AZ

Solo percussion blurs the line between electronic and acoustic sounds.
In this presentation of solo works, Michael Skillern aims to draw the listener’s ear with an eclectic mix of acoustic, percussion + fixed media, and works that fuse percussion with live electronics. He paints an immersive soundscape of varied sonic experiences all made with ‘2 hands.’ The ‘shell’ in the title pays homage to Skillern’s vintage 1970s Ludwig snare drum, straight from the United States of America. Away from the drum set, a snare drum has a rainbow of sonic capabilities that often leaves listeners wondering and questioning what they just heard. How can a drum make such a sound? In a space where sight doesn’t match the sound, new sonic possibilities are brought to life.
This work blends several contemporary drumming techniques, and singing, with a deep synth lead electronic percussion fixed media track. The two sonic worlds, real and digital, are intertwined into a deeply emotional sonic journey. Next comes Pickering’s Non-Prophets, a critique of the American televangelist culture. The composer takes sampled speech patterns from infamous TV preachers and fuses them with forward moving digital sounds using drums and modified organs. All of this, on top of quick, technical snare drum licks show the sonic possibilities of the snare drum enhanced with the addition of electronics.
Join us: https://www.nyuad-artscenter.org/en_US/events/2023/michael-skillern-two-hands-a-shell-and-a-keyboard/

Where is it happening?

NYUAD Arts Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Host or Publisher NYUAD Arts Center

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