Open your ears to new music

Guitarist Jake Danson-Faraday encourages listeners to approach new music with open minds. (Abriel photo)

For Dalhousie music students, the ultimate test before graduation is looming: final recitals.

Guitarist Jake Danson-Faraday isnÕt just putting on a concert. He has commissioned three local composers to write new works for his 70-minute program of contemporary chamber music. ItÕs an ambitious and daunting approach for an undergrad, but he wanted the challenge in preparing for his professional career.

ÒThereÕs huge security in playing pieces that are historic and familiar É I didnÕt want to be the umpteenth guitarist to play the A Minor Fugue,” says the 24-year-old Haligonian.

ÒNew compositions require a great deal of effort; no recordings are available, so you canÕt really learn by listening to other people. No traditional resources exist, basically. So the stress level for me is pretty high right now!”

Danson-Faraday accessed scholarship funding to pay the composers to write these new pieces:

• God, a concerto for guitar and chamber orchestra, by fellow student John Bogardus
• Tango, for guitar and two sopranos, by professor Gary Ewer (BM Õ82)
• Shakey Ground, a solo guitar piece by Jeff Torbert (BM Õ04)

Two of these will premiere at his April 20 grad recital. When he first tested out the concerto at a February concert, audience members congratulated him on his bravery.

ÒI think their response was courageous too, because nobody really knows what new music is supposed to sound like,” he says. ÒPeople generally still see it as inaccessible. ItÕs a different tonal language, with extended techniques. ItÕs not predictable.”

He advises listeners to approach new music with Òan absolutely open mind.” With each chord, every note has its own flavour and purpose. Expect to hear recurring thematic rhythms.

ÒDonÕt be intimidated by it,” he says. ÒThere will be melody, harmony, tone. ItÕs just in a new arrangement, thatÕs all.”

Expect some electronic elements too Ð in Halifax composer Bob BauerÕs piece, Suspended and Mobile (originally written for guitar professor Douglas Reach), Danson-Faraday is accompanied by audiotape. A narrator joins him on one piece, and a viola on another. HeÕs also dipping into the vaults, putting a fresh spin on J.S. Bach, with his own arrangements for guitar and marimba.

After graduating, he plans to dive into the international festival circuit. He loves to travel and aims to collaborate with more composers, dancers and multimedia artists in the future.

He comes by his passion for music genetically. His father Jim Faraday was a longtime percussionist with Symphony Nova Scotia, and teaches at Dal. His mother Ruth Danson (BAÕ70, MLISÕ93) is a music teacher at Springvale Elementary School.

Danson-Faraday first picked up the guitar as a young lad Ð his older brother was studying classical guitar but Òhis interest waned, and the guitars were still there.” He loves the instrumentÕs portability and versatility; he plays many genres, and is a particular fan of jazz and blues.

But right now, itÕs all about chamber music Ð he hasnÕt had the new compositions for very long, so rehearsals are intense.

ÒAfter I graduate, one of my main goals isÉ to go outside!”