CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE

A message from Chris Opperman.

Hi everyone!

I'm pleased to announce that I am on a new release from AWR Records and SQUARE ENIX: A New World; intimate music from FINAL FANTASY - Vol. III.

Check it out here!

CHRIS OPPERMAN'S "STILL WATERS" ALBUM IS OUT !

CHRIS OPPERMAN - STILL WATERS

• chris opperman: still waters
      (2023, cd, USA, purple cow records)

I've been enjoying "Still Waters" all morning.
Solo piano.
Performed by Chris Opperman.
Compositions by Ann Southam, Chris Opperman, Phillip Schroeder, Tlyler Kline, Kimberly Osberg and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

Sheer beauty.

THE CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE

Yes, not just 'a' Chris Opperman update, but 'the" Chris Opperman update.

On the day that I received the news that Chris' new album, "Still Waters", has been made available on Facebook, I received a wonderful package.
Three albums, the new "Still Waters", plus a re-issue of "Klavierstücke" and a bonus "Four Improvisations" CD EP.
From the Kickstarter campaign that Chris launched to produce "Still Waters".

Really looking forward to the listening session,
and what a nice feeling to see one's name next to a number of familiar names in that list of contributors.
We'll be sort of enjoying this together.

• chris opperman: still water
      (2023, cd, usa, purple cow records)

• chris opperman: four improvisations
      (2023, cd, usa, purple cow records)

• chris opperman: klavierstücke
      (2023, cd, usa, purple cow records) - re-issue of the 2001 album

CHRIS OPPERMAN & KURT MORGAN RELEASE "ARE WE LIVING IN A COMPUTER SIMULATION ?"

 Chris Opperman says :

ARE WE LIVING IN A COMPUTER SIMULATION?

People of Earth! Kurt Morgan and I are proud to present to you two different editions of our new release featuring an incredible cover by Mark Buckingham, and stunning performances by Mike Keneally, Andre LaFosse, Scheila Gonzalez Santiago, Kurt Morgan, Ryan Brown, Bri Tagz, and YOU!

The first, the Standard Edition, is a standalone EP that will eventually appear on streaming services.

The second, the #ProveYourHumanity Infinitely Improbable Edition, has an indeterminate number of tracks because YOU, our dearest listeners and friends, can create and submit your own versions of the piece for inclusion on the album!* We have given you everything we think you could possibly need to do so!

Wonderful...

CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE

 Chris Opperman has been releasing some remarkable stuff lately.
His two most recent albums show his diversity in the most surprising way.

Check them out and if you like it, support the artist & buy it!

"Four Improvisations"
Chris added: Presented here are the best ideas I had on August 12th, 2021. I hope you enjoy them.
Solo piano.

"The Pufferfish Variations"
Chris added: Each one of the movements contains factual information about a particular creature of the sea as well as the melodies with solfege syllables from different modes...
Absolutely amazing.

CHRIS OPPERMAN - APHRODITE NIGHTS

Written by Chris Opperman,
Performed by Ryan McCausland,
On Harry Partch's Gourd Tree instrument.

The Gourd Tree :

Aphrodite Nights:

Released on Bandcamp,
Artwork by Tony Akins.

CHRIS OPPERMAN'S "STILL WATERS" PROJECT GOT FUNDED

With 144 backers and 6.600 US $ pledged, Chris Opperman's "Still Waters" project got funded.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/still-waters

CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE

Chris Opperman is recording a new album.

You can support the project by participating in his Kickstarter campaign.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/still-waters

CHRIS OPPERMAN TO LAUNCH A NEW PROJECT

A message from Chris Opperman:

This is just a teaser announcement to let you know that my next Kickstarter project for my 7th album, Still Waters, will begin on August 19th at 10am Eastern time! Here is a link if you would like to follow along:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/still-waters


It's going to be a solo piano album and sequel to 2001's Klavierstücke which will also be getting reprinted in a special 20th anniversary edition as part of the Kickstarter. I will release a lot more details at launch. :) 

CHRIS OPPERMAN'S CHAMBER MUSIC FROM HELL

Chris Opperman's "Chamber Music From Hell" is out !!

Official released date is today.
If you haven't ordered it yet, you know what to do :
www.chrisopperman.net/cmfh

CHRIS OPPERMAN'S CHAMBER MUSIC FROM HELL

Chris Opperman's "Chamber Music From Hell" is out.
Well, almost that is.

You can still (pre-) order your copy here :
https://www.chrisopperman.net/cmfh

A CHRIS OPPERMAN AND KURT MORGAN UPDATE

A message from Kurt Morgan (who is producing and orchestrating Chris Opperman's latest release) :

Composer Chris Opperman and I are very excited to share this video premiere with all of you.

Over the last year, Chris and I have been working on Chamber Music From Hell, an album of some of his more challenging compositions for chamber ensemble and I am happy to report that we can see the finish line approaching.

The following video for “Waking Up” is a visual representation of a piece from that collection; one that attempts to convey some kind of peace, balance, and relief from the challenging music that precedes it.

We hope that this humble piece of art acts as some kind of relief for people as we try to navigate through the “new normal” world that we presently find ourselves in.

Chris and I wish all of you good health, peace, and happiness today and everyday.

CHRIS OPPERMAN AND GENE PRITSKER UPDATE

From Chris Opperman :

The world premiere of my new piece "And If You Know" will take place on Sunday, March 15th at Opera America in NYC with Ereni Sevasti singing and Gene Pritsker on guitar. It's a pop ballad I wrote for my little girl because I want her to always know that I love her. There are a lot of other awesome pieces and composers who will also be featured! Come hang!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tin-pan-allegiances-tickets-91453280223

Composers featured on the concert include, Tyrone Birkett, Charles Coleman, Dan Cooper, Loire Cotler, Chris Opperman, Gene Pritsker, Richard Sussman, David Taylor, and Ann Warren.

Performers featured will be vocalist Scot Albertson, saxophonist Tyrone Birkett, vocalist Charles Coleman, vocalist Loire Cotler, violist Beth Holub, pianist Chris Opperman, guitarist Gene Pritsker, pianist Richard Sussman, bass trombonist David Taylor, Ereni Sevasti - voice, Loire Cotler - Rhythm Vocalist, and Glen Velez - Frame Drum, Percussion

CHRIS OPPERMAN AND KURT MORGAN

There's only three days to go to back Chris Opperman's "Chamber Music From Hell".

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/chamber-music-from-hell

Chris Opperman and Kurt Morgan follow in their hero Frank Zappa's footsteps to bring you something both beautiful and strange.

CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE

Chris Opperman and Kurt Morgan started a Kickstarter campaign for a new release.

Here's a message from Chris Opperman :
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/chamber-music-from-hell/posts/2514838


Hi, everybody! First and foremost, I want to say thank you again to everyone who has pledged so far. $6,000! That's amazing! I'm really looking forward to writing the prize pieces.

Quick bit of housekeeping: according to Kickstarter, there's over a hundred people following this project who haven't pledged yet. I just want you to know that I'm happy to answer any questions that you have, especially if that will help you pledge to our project. (I'm also happy to answer any questions our current pledgers have!).

My friend Jedd was kind enough to do an interview with me for this project, which I am happy to present to you!

Jedd Beaudoin hosts the nationally-syndicated music radio program, Strange Currency, from NPR affiliate KMUW in Wichita, KS. He teaches in The School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at Wichita State University and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from that institution. He is a regular contributor to the cultural website PopMatters as well as KEYBOARD Magazine and recognizes Chris Opperman’s genius as a parent and composer. Additionally, he worships Kurt Morgan’s ability to wear a necktie and produce a record like a mofo.


Jedd: Your compositional focus has shifted in recent years and yet there’s not much in the way of recorded evidence. This record seeks to correct that.

Chris:Yes, the primary goal of the album is to make commercially available some of the serious classical music I’ve written in the last decade since The Lionheart. One of the fun aspects of the project, though, is that it feels like we’re making a debut album, even though it’s my sixth. I feel like all of my albums have been very different from one another. Chamber Music from Hell will not be an exception to that.

Jedd: This is a collaboration between you and Kurt Morgan. Had the two of you wanted to work together for a long time? What’s it been like working together?

Chris: Well, Kurt and I have gotten to be friends over the years (it’s too bad I never knew him when I lived in Los Angeles). I’ve always really enjoyed his playing in Dweezil’s band and the musical thoughts that he has, so I used to daydream about playing with him and drummer Ryan Brown. Honestly, Dweezil’s current band is the best band I’ve ever heard in my life.

One day, Kurt and I were chatting and messing about on-line and Kurt made a demo of the first “Shades of Beige” movement from Composition V to show me his samples. Literally just for fun. I thought it sounded great on its own but when I compared it to the Meraki Chamber Players’s actual performance of the same piece I couldn’t believe how close it was sonically! It was just a “little demo” but Kurt really put a lot of thought and care into it and it showed. I’m an exceptionally lucky composer to have him in my corner.

One of the things I like about working with Kurt as a producer is that one of the first things he did after agreeing to do the project was to start pushing the boundaries of what the project could be. It was really inspirational, and the album will be much less predictable for it. Also, he seems to have just instinctually completely understood a lot of the themes and concepts behind many of the pieces and the result is going to be a concept album that’s a cohesive whole of all that.

Jedd: At the core of this is a shared love of Frank Zappa’s music and appreciation of his aesthetic. [Can you talk a little bit about that?]

Chris: Well, without Zappa, you don’t get either of us and we know it. I don’t want to speak for Kurt, but to me it’s a humbling thing (and not in the way that politicians and award-winners constantly misuse that word). The influence that Zappa and his music has had on my life is so profound that the trumpet lesson that I had in 1993 where I saw the Zappa’s Universe poster on the wall and heard his music for the first time is probably the second most important event in my life, second only to my actual birth. That isn’t rhetoric. That’s how powerful Zappa’s music is.

Jedd: At some point you decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign. There are many artists who revel in this kind of fundraising, others who are less enthusiastic. It seems that the two of you decided to embrace it.

Chris: We’re really having fun with it. Our friends, families, colleagues, and fans have been genuinely enthusiastic about the project and that makes us feel really good and encouraged. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about the prizes (the $66 one is especially popular). We were also the featured music project on Kickstarter for a couple days and they gave us the “Project We Love” designation!

We also had a ton of fun making the video. We do have some truly hilarious NSFW outtakes of Kurt’s part of the video. I was personally really excited that [Zappa orchestrator] Ali Askin agreed to play the part of a painting of Arnold Schoenberg (by Dutch painter Paul Berkholst) because I thought that would be bizarre and funny, which it was.

It’s tough to put yourself out there in a world where consumers assume that all recorded music is free. Especially since it’s quite obviously not free to create high-quality recordings, but I’m glad we decided to go for it.

Jedd: I wonder if a Kickstarter campaign is something that only hardcore fans engage with or if you find that people who may not have ever heard your music before trickle in, say, “This seems dope!” and plunk down their cash.

Chris: Kurt and I recognize probably 75% of the names on the backer list. We got a few comments from people who had no idea what the music was going to sound like, but the random pledgers mostly seem to just want the $66 musical nameplate, which is fine by me! I’m going to have fun writing those weird melodies.

Jedd: I’m looking forward to hearing the music, be it on CD, WAV or brain implant. It must be exciting for you as well to usher this stuff in the world in a listening format.

Chris: Brain implant! Hah! That totally fits in the themes of the album! I’m excited that people are going to be expecting this awesome whacky album called Chamber Music from Hell and then they’re going to get something that’s even better than that! Not to hype it too much!

Jedd: Last one: Did writing The Cribbage Variations actually make you a lover of the game and if one were to become the single largest donor to this project would you consider making a video in which you play the game with Scott Thunes?

Chris: LOL! While I think Scott would enjoy being paid to play a game of Cribbage with me on video, I don’t even know if he knows how to play. The Cribbage Variations came about because someone in the Zappa ’88 band was more interested in playing Cribbage with Keneally than they were about getting paid to write a piece for Scott. I guess this just continues the time theme with the music: Scott’s desired commission got fulfilled twenty-nine years later. I have to say I really had a good time playing Cribbage on my iPad for research. Not even research in scare quotes!

CHRIS OPPERMAN KICKSTARTER PROJECT

Chamber Music from Hell
a kickstarter project by Chris Opperman (and Kurt Morgan).

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/chamber-music-from-hell

CHRIS OPPERMAN - STUDIO HOUSE EP

• chris opperman: studio house ep
      (2012, digital download, --, itunes)

This 5-track EP got released on iTunes in 2012. I always figured that it would also be out on CD some day, but that didn't happen.
Anyway, a beautiful little album that includes a very fine version of Frank Zappa's 'Blessed Relief'.

Thanks to Andrew Greenaway's Spotify playlist for bringing this one back to my attention.