Compendiums About
Compendium [kuhm-pen-dee-uhm] –noun
1. a brief treatment or account of a subject
Since 2002 I have hosted and produced a talk radio news magazine on the campus of Western Michigan University called the Nonchalant Café Hour. Musicians of all stripes have stopped by the program to discuss their craft and the passion that fuels the music they create and perform.
Part of the genesis of this thesis project stems from the many conversations I have had over the years with musicians. How musicians communicate with each other, the language of music, is something I have explored in various ways with musicians. Below are brief responses, compendiums, from musicians who have appeared on the NCH reflecting on how they communicate through music.
Part of this multi-media project is to establish a platform from which conversations can further be explored. If you are a musician and would like to add to this project, please contact me: exploringconversations@gmail.com
Kalamazoo-based Who Hit John? bassist Ian Gorman discusses the translation of music in a band filled with songwriters.
Percussionist Mike Shimmin discusses the learning the language of music through cultural immersion.
The StereoFidelics, Chris Padgett and Melissa McGinley discuss the passion of a musical conversation.
Roger Miller, guitarist and principle songwriter for Boston-based Mission of Burma, discusses the longevity of musical conversations and the natural fit certain instruments have for the band.
Mark Duval, a Kalamazoo, Mich.-based acoustic roots musician, suggests the key to musical conversations is listening.
