S. Eric Scribner
Eric Scribner is a multi-faceted musician, writer, artist and composer. His compositions are guided improvisations using a method of his invention: the soundscroll, which is a graphic score consisting of drawn or copied landscapes, with musical staves superimposed.
Following instructions that are unique for each piece, performers interpret and improvise on the visual imagery and notes suggested in the score. Scribner conceived of this method in the 1970s, originally thinking that, after making landscape art he would convert it to conventional notation. He later decided that improvised and aleatory music worked better with the concept of music depicting nature. Like birdsong or wind rustling leaves, it is less predictable than fully notated music. Unlike conventional classical music, the performers have a great deal of leeway in how they interpret scores, and can react to the sounds and ideas presented by their co-performers. No two performances of a soundscroll piece will be the same.
Scribner’s first album, simply titled SoundScrolls, presents a series of these compositions/performances. The album covers a wide range of musical palettes spanning modern classical and jazz improvisation traditions, all inspired by natural landscapes.
Buy Soundscrolls on Bandcamp.