MicroFreak You, Baby.
Framingham State’s Associate Professor of Music, Christian Gentry, has had recent works exhibited and/or performed at spots like Akron Art Museum, Brigham Young University, Westminster College, Verspiel (New Orleans), and Southeastern Louisiana University. His sound design and mixing work for Rashin Fahendej’s A Father’s Lullaby was exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and received an Ars Electronica Award of Distinction in the Digital Musics and Sound Art category. This Friday night, he performs as Maribo—part of a three-act bill he’s also curated. Grab tickets here.
atac: Christian Gentry aka Maribo: Who are you?
Christian Gentry: I'm a professor of music, composer, sound designer, and performer in Framingham.
atac: What’s the best part of teaching?
CG: I love molding the minds of young people in all aspects of musical history, theory, and composition. I have taught at all levels, from beginning piano students to college level theory, history, and electronic music. I feel very fortunate to be paid by the commonwealth to teach music everyday.
atac: Who molded you?
CG: I grew up in the White Mountains of Arizona (yes, it is a place) in a large, musical family. I was surrounded by music my whole life, playing the piano and beginning to compose in my early teen years. My father, a retired music educator, was my first piano teacher and musical mentor. The vast collection of CDs and scores made it easy for me to study the great Western classical composers. I pursued the long journey of music composition and theory degrees at University of Utah, University of Louisville, and eventually landed in Massachusetts where I received my doctorate from Brandeis University. All along the way, I've been a teacher.
atac: What's the roughest gig you've ever played?
CG: Oh boy. I can think of some early pieces that involved software like Max/MSP where everything seemed to go wrong. They all blend together. But, when you are using software, always be prepared to cry.
atac: Apart from having a box of tissues close at hand, what advice have you for the aspiring performer?
CG: I am that aspiring performer, actually. Most of my stage time until recently has been playing piano in grad school with a contemporary improv ensemble (The Gentlemen's Very Very High Art Society of South Waltham). This show [March 31 at atac] is my first live solo act as Maribo. But, having many pieces of mine performed and recorded I would say the most important things are:
1) Know your signal chain
2) Understand how to adjust in real time to any problems that arise
3) Practice your set front and back so you can do it in your sleep
atac: What's your current rig?
CG: I'm running a Eurorack rig (with too many modules to list), Arturia MiniBrute 2, Arturia MicroFreak, Circuit Rhythm (groovebox), two cassette players and kalimba (with effects pedals) through Ableton. I am using a Novation launchpad, and iPad TouchOSC for my main triggering and controller center. I would say right now that I really love the MicroFreak. It's the cool art school weirdo friend in my setup.
atac: Every artist’s favorite question: Desert-island records, go!
CG: Ah! This question is so mean to musicians—but I've thought about it a lot in anticipation.
György Sandor's Complete Recordings of Prokofiev's Piano Sonatas was an early influence on my compositional style.
Kafka Fragments by György Kurtag, the 2006 recording with Juliane Banse, soprano and Andras Keller, violin.
Replica by Oneohtrix Point Never
Life's Rich Pageant by REM
Horses by Patti Smith
( ) by Sigur Rós
atac: My man, Sleep Dealer of Replica...that is a top-10 all-timer. Lopatin is one of Massachusetts’ greatest exports, along with Kingdom. What about the live shows list?
CG: There are so many; I will just pick a few from recent years.
Stravinsky's Rite of Spring in the early 00's in Salt Lake City by the Utah Symphony
Sigur Rós and amiina at the Palace Theater in Louisville, KY back in 2006
Bang on a Can marathon in NYC (Summer 2009-11)—where I discovered Chaya Czernowin's Sahaf performed by Ensemble Nikel
Magikal Cloudz at Great Scott in Allston. 2012 I think.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Sanders Theater a few years back
The Smile at Roadrunner last fall
atac: In addition to performing, you've curated this show. Can you tell us a bit about the evening's other artists?
CG: Dave's music, especially Hysteresis (which will probably be on the show), patiently meanders interlocking drones that phase in and out of perfect tuning. Using a resonator and a chain of effects pedals the music creates a trance-like state that constantly keeps the ear guessing. Andrew's Quarry and False Electronic Alert pull the listener into unique soundscapes that undulate between hypnotic rhythms and precarious electronic beeps. At the same time startling questions arise as you listen: "Was that a bird? Were those people talking? Was it just my imagination?"
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Catch Christian Gentry as Maribo on a stellar bill with Dave Seidel and Andrew Neumann this Friday, March 31, 2023. Tickets available here and at the door.
