May 31, 2006
MAY/JUNE
Welcome to new visitors from AudioWelding.com. The INTERKOSMOS site will be up shortly and will no longer redirect you here, but while you're here (and hello to everyone else):
SEATTLE: Friday, June 2nd
Christopher Ferris: LIVE piano improvisation
No Cover
Two sets, 9:00pm and 10:00pm
FENOMENA
200 Roy : Suite 104
SEATTLE: September 14th through 17th
Decibel Festival - Seattle Electronic Music Festival
Interkosmos LIVE (TBC)
MILAN: September 20th through October 10th
Interkosmos LIVE (TBC)
CDs: Unlimited LONDON MIX and PROXIMITY release!
A few limited CDs still available:
CDbaby.com
Stay tuned!
Posted by Christopher at 09:47 PM | Comments (1)
March 12, 2006
March
Hi people! February was interesting as well! Read on.
PIANO
Both “Bonjour Tristesse” and “A Chime in the Woods 2004” are now available to online digital music services subscribes, and Chime 2005 should show up there shortly as well. See "coming soon," below - February was all about
INTERKOSMOS
INTERKOSMOS is spreading around the globe. In January I released “London Mix,” taken from sketches I composed while in London last year, then fully produced into this album. It’s really upbeat, many folks have also said it is soothing and great to work to.
“London Mix” can be found online at cdbaby.com, and should start appearing on major digital music download services as early as April(iTunes, Rhapsody, MSN Music, others). The original sketches that led to the album are available for download in the Gallery.
The remastered, redesigned unlimited release of “Invasion Warning” is now out on CDBaby.com, and will also be appearing in digital distribution soon. Now you have no reason not to own it! Go! Go get it!
COMING SOON
As in, soon! “Proximity” is releasing March 15th, beware the ides of March. It will be available for purchase one week later, watch for the announcement if you're a subscriber!
Coming in late March I’m planning an online community performance series. It’s an experiment that you’re welcome to participate in, please do. Every day for two weeks I will record a new piece (improvisation) and release it to this site for free download. I hope you get a chance to follow along with me, it should prove to be an interesting format.
I'm also investigating May for a piano concert on a Friday evening. More news soon.
Posted by Christopher at 12:44 AM | Comments (42)
January 27, 2006
January
January was a busy month! Lots going on, and plenty more to come. Read on…
PIANO
“A Chime in the Woods 2005” has been released on CD and is available online at www.cdbaby.com. The general consensus is that the 2005 concert was “even better than the last” so if you haven’t heard it, head into the Gallery where I’ve got MP3s from the final master for free download. Seriously, free, so if you like it you should consider letting your friends know about it, too.
Also, if you or anyone you know subscribes to online digital music services, both “Bonjour Tristesse” and “A Chime in the Woods 2004” are now available, and Chime 2005 should show up there shortly as well.
INTERKOSMOS
My electronic music persona, INTERKOSMOS, is gaining some international attention, keep sending the encouragements! In January I released “London Mix,” taken from sketches I composed while in London last year then fully produced into an album that I am really proud of. It’s really upbeat and is ready to be played in clubs, yet many listeners have also called it soothing and great to work to.
“London Mix” has now reached my distributor and can be found online at cdbaby.com, and should start appearing on major digital music download services as early as March (iTunes, Rhapsody, MSN Music, and many more). The original sketches (MP3s) that led to the album are available for free download in the Gallery, too.
On a nice note, Rhapsody placed “A Chime in the Woods 2005” on their “most significant new releases of the week”. It was posted in the “Classical” genre, under 20th/21st century composers. It’s gone now, of course.
COMING SOON
INTERKOSMOS
Right on the heels of “London Mix” is “Proximity,” which is rapidly nearing completion! Another full-length album with (currently) nine tracks that pushes the Euro-club aesthetic into a variety of related genres including drum and bass, downtempo and even a track hinting at dub. There will of course be a good number of straight-ahead house tracks but all with whatever it is that makes my music different. Also slated for a February release!
The remastered, redesigned unlimited release of “Invasion Warning” is due out in mid-February on CDBaby.com, and will also appear in digital distribution soon after. Until then, the limited edition of 100 CDs is sold out. The new cover design by Allison Kline is awesome!
PIANO
WQFS in Greensboro, NC, is still planning to air a show about me, currently scheduled for “early February.”
Coming in late February I’m planning an online performance series. It’s an experiment that you’re welcome to participate in, please do. Every day for two weeks I will record a new piece (improvisation) and release it to this site for free download. I hope you get a chance to follow along with me, it should prove to be an interesting format.
Posted by Christopher at 09:12 PM | Comments (205)
November 12, 2005
November
Hey everyone. It's dark and rainy in Seattle, bringing joy to all who ski and snowboard. Here's the update, there's a lot going on!
The Concert
Was great. I was fortunate to be joined by RW, who read the spoken parts of the performance. Everyone joined me and my family for a reception afterwards in the dining room. The DAR chapter is a historical replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon home, and it seems to be growing into a home of sorts for me. If you didn't get chance to come to this concert, I expect there will be another. In the meantime, however:
The Concert Recording
Sounds fantastic, due entirely to DS, my microphone wizard. Lots of presence, plus a good clear sense of the room too, which you can sense because there's no noise or interference. I am editing the music together into another album now and will post MP3's here for all, and am producing a limited run of 100 CDs, gifts for those who came to the concert. And of course there will be plenty left over at CDbaby too.
WQFS
Has received my CDs including two pieces I have recorded but not released before. I've been told that the program will air in December, but I have no more news than that. I've added those pieces to this site in MP3 format for anyone to download. The first piece is one I composed for RY's ballet "Friction" for six dancers, which he set on Pacific Northwest Ballet's professional division students. The second is a series of three pieces I improvised, recorded in the summer of 2004, titled "Summer Series." I imagine that I will also send the latest concert CD to them as well. In other news:
INVASION WARNING
CB and I just wrapped up v2 of the remastered album and it sounds amazing. I'm also working with AK whom I've asked to redesign the cover and CD art, very exciting, she does great work. I dream of getting this "unlimited" edition released before Christmas gets here. Once it reaches my distributor I can also release it into digital distribution, so it'll hit tons of music services for downloading. See cynical note via the extended entry below.
Home Studio update
As a final note, I have finally compiled the correct concoction of technology, and can record my own piano with near perfect clarity and post the results on this Web site, hey presto! Just like that. Now I can try to perform longer series of pieces where I could just sit down every night and record one improvisation and post it for all of my friends each night. What fun!
Posted by Christopher at 03:00 AM | Comments (6050)
October 02, 2005
October
A month for the piano, it would appear. It goes with the rain pretty well, I think. On the agenda:
SUNDAY October 9th at 2:00pm: A Chime in the Woods
A story without words, solo piano. A repeat of last year's performance, and at the same time a completely new performance; improvisation somewhat contradicts reproduction. Eight pieces that represent eight stages of a tale. Free admission. (See the Gallery for more)
Daughters of the American Revolution
Rainier Chapter (near Harvard Exit on Capitol Hill)
800 East Roy Street
Seattle, Washington
SUNDAY October ?: WQFS Broadcast of A Chime in the Woods
Guilford College Radio plans to air an hour segment on my music later in this month. They currently are not broadcasting on the Web but I'm looking in to getting a recording of the show to make it available on MP3 here on the site. Stay tuned! Holy smokes!
In the Gallery: MP3s of practice sessions before October 9th
Short, FM radio-quality MP3s recorded here in my home. I'm exploring the narrative of the story differently this year (always changing, evolving), and am posting some sketches I've come up with.
Posted by Christopher at 09:49 PM | Comments (459)
September 15, 2005
September
Greetings to all. The summer sun in Seattle has hidden itself for the moment and it is suddenly Autumn here. While the sun was out I busied myself here and there: July 31 Multiple Sclerosis Inline Marathon (30th out of 158 - was in 10th place until mile 23 of 24.7 and I bonked; a train of 20 skaters caught me and passed. Pretty funny, actually). August 30 summitted Mt Rainier with RMI guide service and buddy AT. Check out the photos in the gallery.
PIANO: I have a live piano performance coming up this October 9th, a Sunday, at 2:00pm. I'll be performing "A Chime in the Woods" again, although it won't be the same of course because it's improvised. Recordings from last year's performance are in the gallery, and the CD is available online, too.
ELECTRONICA: Also check out the new electronic music composed while in London this Spring; I've added those to the gallery as well (London Mix).
That should do it for now! Hope to see you October 9th - see "continue reading" below for more details.
Posted by Christopher at 04:56 AM | Comments (620)
June 06, 2005
Music News
It's been busy since my return from London and the news has piled up. There are photos from London that are still waiting patiently to be posted, new electronica works in progress, plans for Web site development, and new developments in my recording studio - but the big news is CDs:
PIANO: The October 10th 2004 performance "A Chime in the Woods" is finally available on CD! I just received them last week and they look and sound great. I have copies for everyone who was at the performance, and plenty more; I've printed the "limited" version of 100 copies. For those of you who want copies, let me know, or you can get them online at CD Baby.
PIANO: Also available now at CD Baby is my 1997 album "bonjour tristesse." How fun! I recorded it at Bear Creek Studios on a remarkable piano - if you want to hear what I sounded like before I began playing regularly for ballet classes at Pacific Northwest Ballet, here's your chance. I still hear from people that they play it all the time - deep thanks for those who have encouraged me!
ELECTRONICA: There is (at the time of this writing) one copy of Invasion Warning left. Anywhere. It's sitting at CD Baby, and it's the last of the limited 100. Chris Ballew (Presidents of the United States of America) and I still plan to master IW together soon, and then it will be available again in unlimited (whatever that means).
OTHER NEWS:
- New camera, new photos coming soon
- Digital distribution! You can download tracks of my music from nearly any music download site now (except for IW, which won't be available until the final master is completed)
- Web site refresh - plans are under way to transform www.festeproductions.com - more news as the schedule comes together
- Mailing list is now over 150 people and growing - what a great group of people!
Posted by Christopher at 04:45 AM | Comments (99)
March 17, 2005
Word on Invasion Warning
"I was so into it, I was surprised when it was over" - ML
"Wow--you've got some interesting sounds mixed up in the music. It could be on a soundtrack for a film. I like it!" - JL
"After playing your CD thrice, I thought I'd better play something else or I would be overcome by addiction, ie, I enjoyed the CD" - RJ
Some great feedback. Anyone else? I'm going in to the studio to master Invasion Warning on Tuesday 22.
Posted by Christopher at 02:22 AM | Comments (447)
February 16, 2005
Invasion continues, and other news
INTERKOSMOS: The CDs have been printed (100) and there are only about 20 left now, thanks for all the positive feedback! Next steps I'll be taking the album in for final mastering with CB, thanks to both you and DD for hooking me up there - should be exciting!
Especial thanks to SH, JL, DH, RJ and kF for constant encouraging reviews, MS for the official electronica approval, and to the mystery 3 at 5S, hope to hear from you! Everyone should send me mail and if the album did something for you, write something about it.
I also hooked up with indie music distributor cdbaby.com, INVASION WARNING is available there right now (have a copy?). How about that.
PIANO: engineer DS is helping me mic my piano exactly right, and now all we need to do is run cables through the walls and I'll be able to record at will in hi fi, oh yeah. I've considered doing a summer program once before, where I'd post a new piece to the site every evening, for a couple of weeks. On the spot summer evening piano improv for you out there in BE. Hm?
Chime in the Woods: I've received the CD print proof for the label and it looks great so I'll be producing the limited run of last October's concert in the next couple of days! Many of you already said you wanted one (or more) and I still have you down. Thanks again to DS for a rich, clean recording!
PERSONAL: photography? My latest big lesson in humility happened in Mexico a few weeks ago; don't mix snorkeling and digital cameras, that's all I can say. It's dead, so as my garden is in early Spring blossoms, I'm the only one enjoying them besides Smudge who is most enthusiastic about the longer daylight. Thanks to VH for her interest in prints, I'll put up a gallery of the ones she chose soon.
There's always more
Continue reading "Invasion continues, and other news"
Posted by Christopher at 06:39 AM | Comments (1205)
January 01, 2005
INVASION WARNING 2005 : jan 3 update
Invasion Warning is in progress! A report from GF in Connecticut is that bonjour tristesse (1985) has fully infiltrated his company iTunes share and is now receiving Warning. Super cool. Many thanks to OM for comments on the tunes.
I've just fired off an email salvo at a new big group of friends whose aliases I've just corraled, so for those of you visiting Feste Productions for the first time, howdy, I'm quite glad you've made it this far - stay a second or two and download some MP3s from me.
Warning: not all music is to the likes of all. I have wonderful friends who prefer the piano or the electronica over the other. There you have it. If you like the piano better, take a couple of seconds to download recordings from my concert on October 10th if that interests you. Please be my guest!
The MP3s are yours (please share!). Click on the MP3 AUDIO pix to access music.
Extended Entry (below): What's that on the horizon?
Continue reading "INVASION WARNING 2005 : jan 3 update"
Posted by Christopher at 02:02 AM | Comments (40)
December 07, 2004
INVASION WARNING 2005
preview MP3 files in the gallery or via title links here:
Titles:
The Persistence of Time 1f
Permission Denials 3b
Continue reading "INVASION WARNING 2005"
Posted by Christopher at 04:22 AM | Comments (27)
November 14, 2004
Concert (rough cut) on MP3s
At last it's here, the first draft of the concert recordings. Further enhancements to quality are planned for CDs, but these MP3s are near-CD quality and sound wonderful. Please download and please share!
I am printing 100 CDs with a unique label, for those who were at the concert and for others from the mail list who request one. When they're gone, they're gone. If by some odd chance you're not on my announcements list and would like to be, please feel free to send me a note, you'd be very welcome.
The MP3s are in the Gallery and are in order of the performance. For those of you who were not able to attend, see the extended entry below for the program and performance text, it will explain a lot, I think.
Continue reading "Concert (rough cut) on MP3s"
Posted by Christopher at 11:39 PM | Comments (633)
November 07, 2004
Concert and Onwards
Never one to sit still for a moment, I have launched off into yet another wild creation and of course have until this moment failed to properly thank all of you very much for encouragement and encouraging reports of the concert. A number of people noted that the idea of an archetypal story was especially germane to their own lives, so I'm glad that I implied a happy ending.
My first concert since I performed "Tales of Na'ashivaal" in 1999 at Nippon Kan in Seattle. So it's been a while, and the string has been broken. "A Chime in the Woods" ended up being a nice way to start another story. For everyone and especially my friends who couldn't come (thanks MD and KDB in chocolate-land!), the recording mix is in progress and I should have a rough cut up on the web in MP3 format next weekend just in case you wanted to hear it again. Watch for the announcement...
I'll also be burning CDs when it's mastered, please let me know if you would like one. More details anon.
Current project: INTERKOSMOS releases their debut album "INVASION WARNING." MP3s of working versions coming soon to the site, watch for the announcement and more details here...
Posted by Christopher at 04:25 AM | Comments (16)
September 14, 2004
A Chime in the Woods
October 10, 2004, is the date of my upcoming concert. I've sent out a JPG invitation to many of you, and have posted it in a new gallery as well.
That's a Sunday afternoon, at 2:00, and will be held at the Daughters of the American Revolution Rainier Chapter on Capitol Hill. The building itself is a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon home and has a large state room where the grand piano will be. There is no admission cost, and we can seat up to 120 guests or so - I have no fear of running out of room.
DAR is located at:
800 East Roy Street
(between Cornish and the Harvard Exit)
I've just added my program notes; see the link "Continue reading" below. The program is unconventional as far as piano concerts go, and you're encouraged to read ahead if you like. I thought perhaps this time I would refrain from speaking as much, but of course I can't, being a story teller. H just told me she was looking forward to hearing the latest poetry, so OK. I will speak, in an effort to bring context to the music.
Continue reading "A Chime in the Woods"
Posted by Christopher at 05:57 PM | Comments (1)
August 24, 2004
August in the Garden
I spent a lot of time this past July training for an inline marathon. The garden didn't seem to mind my absence too much. Of special note are the toad lilies - tricyrtis - very unusual, especially up close. And then there's that cat.
Posted by Christopher at 04:54 AM | Comments (1)
August 06, 2004
More flowers and other news
At last I have settled down comfortably with a new machine, and with it a new freedom to create music and share it with you here. Summer hurries on, however, the days are growing shorter. Some perennials are calling it quits, and others are finally ready to declare themselves. Late July photos are here.
I'll mention it now, and will remind you later - with August here and autumn close behind, October the 10th becomes visible on the distant horizon. That's the Sunday when I'm having a concert that you're invited to. I've already started making sketches and will start putting MP3's up on this site in case you're curious to know what I have planned.
Posted by Christopher at 06:54 AM | Comments (4368)
July 28, 2004
The Secret Garden (continued)
Such a nice reception from those of you who have already looked in. I've brought in more photos, so you can catch up with the history of the garden. This series chronicles the blossom cycle throughout the year. I've made room to create other galleries for images other than flowers, and there is more. Also, I have audio and prose projects to add as well, so don't go thinking that you'll only get flowers here! Stay tuned!
Posted by Christopher at 08:46 PM | Comments (540)
July 27, 2004
Photography in the Secret Garden - mid July series
At last, the photos are arriving at feste productions. Go to the gallery to see the first summer series images: summer evening sunlight on golden chrysanthemums, and July heat brings buds to the dahlia. And more, of course.
Posted by Christopher at 06:39 AM | Comments (459)
July 21, 2004
Germination
Here we go! Thanks for being one of the very first visitors to feste productions' Web site. Over the next few weeks this site will grow rapidly as I upload the archive media for your perusal. Watch for three categories - audio files, images, and prose. Or music, photography and fiction. Or a variety of interpretations.
I'll keep notes for each new update - enjoy!
- Chris
Posted by Christopher at 08:11 PM | Comments (57)