I hardly know where to begin a review of Ben Van Winkle and\nthe Figment Chamber Ensemble\u2019s concert on March 16, 2019 at the Chattanooga\nTheatre Centre. FCE is a group of 13 musicians of varied background. The\ncomplexity of creating and producing a concert like this virtually requires the\nindividual evaluation of the component parts. So, first\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC:<\/strong>\nAll of the music presented at this concert was composed by BVW. I say composed,\nbut not really\u2026, because it seems to lack the formality of \u201ccomposition\u201d and\ninstead feels (because this music is truly visceral) more like a vision, dream,\nor psychedelic outpouring, that has been notated by a magician. The music has\nbeen created from an imagination so fertile that it is, perhaps, best described\nas being an entirely new musical genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think fusion of, say, Phillip Glass, Eric Satie and John\nCage, with rhythmic elements of Igor Stravinsky\u2026, but not really. Polyrhythmic\nand polytonal elements abound. Motives become altered within a few repetitions\nto include quirky atonalities or rhythmic divergences that completely change\nthe character of the music. Waves of sound are created that break up into\njagged bits of percussive elements. The full ensemble frequently dies away to one\nor a few instruments, then surges back to full ensemble, which barrels towards\na final cadence. Loud and soft, long and short, warm and cool, tonal and\natonal, lyricism and percussiveness, randomness and unity are masterfully\ninterwoven to keep the listener enthralled. Magic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n THE ENSEMBLE: <\/strong>The\nunusual ensemble of instruments (string quartet plus bass, clarinet, bass\nclarinet, flute, piccolo, marimba plus a variety of other percussion, guitar,\nhammered dulcimer[!]) is called on to provide an enormous range of textures and\ncolors. I don\u2019t know how this group was assembled, but they are superb! Playing\nwithout a conductor, they seemingly effortlessly create a blanket of sound that\nsurrounds the audience and demands its attention to the music from the first\nnote to the last. The group plays with great intensity and delicacy as\nrequired, creating subtle shifts in volume that make crescendos and diminuendos\nappear almost as surprises. They play as if they are all connected to the same\nbrain witha precision of pitch and rhythm that are hallmarks of the best\nwell-known professional ensembles. They visibly enjoy what they are doing and compel\nthe audience to participate in their joy. Magic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n THE SOLO SONGS: <\/strong>Featuring BVW as the vocalist, these songs are\nenormously entertaining creations. Again, in an effort to describe them, they\nare reminiscent of what might result from an skull session with Bo Burnham,\nFranz Schubert, and Queen, but not really\u2026 BVW is a remarkable lyricist as well\nas composer, and these songs are certainly testaments to his skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Backed-up by the ensemble, Ben accompanies himself on cello\nin a unique style. Furiously bowing, strumming, plucking, thumping, the\ninstrument, he exhibits everything from metal rock lead man to sensitive na\u00efve\ning\u00e9nue in both his playing and singing. His lyrics are extraordinarily\ncompelling tropes on universal and timeless interests of humankind \u2013 love, sex,\njoy, etc. \u2013 to train of thought expressions of mundane events in life, like\ndiscovery of an imaginary road \u201cbuddy\u201d in another car whom you bond with\nbecause his driving style matches yours as you mindlessly drive down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texts are often rapid-fire patter songs, and my only\ncomplaint is that they were not presented in print, because I\u2019m certain I\nmissed out on some really creative moments! BVW creates not so much memorable\nmelodies, but tone poems around the texts in such a manner that the listener is\nboth drawn into the mood of the text and completely amazed by the hubris of the\nmusic. Soaring vocal lines are easily handled by Ben, and his wit, energy, and personality shine\nthrough every song. Magic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n SUMMARY: <\/strong>I\u2019m an\nold, jaded musician who never expects to be surprised in a performance and am\nseldom challenged in that expectation. However, the novelty, creativity, and\njoy of music this young man creates overwhelms me. He is truly a polymath \u2013\ncomposer, lyricist, singer, cellist, guitarist, dancer(!) — and, perhaps, even the word genius applies\nhere! It\u2019s hard for me to express my appreciation for the enormity of his\ntalent, and I hope never to miss one of his performances!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Music or magic? Uncertain, I\u2019m leaning\nstrongly toward magic right now. I don\u2019t know if Ben, a la Faust, sold his soul\nto the devil, but he\u2019s clearly got the gifts to make a tremendous contribution\nto music and I wish him every success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I hardly know where to begin a review of Ben Van Winkle and the Figment Chamber Ensemble\u2019s concert on March 16, 2019 at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. FCE is a group of 13 musicians of varied background. The complexity of creating and producing a concert like this virtually requires the individual evaluation of the component … <\/p>\n