Axoxnxs Podcast

Liner notes: Agriculture Stairwell [12:42]. Sound is a carrier of information. Vibration is the message. Frequency is the interoculator.- AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Cut Atom Splice [02:18]. Sound is a carrier of information. Vibration is the message. Frequency is the mindfulness meditation.- AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Bumper Outro [01:00]. Credits. Thank you. Sound is a carrier of information. Vibration is the message. Frequency is the instruction.- AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Elusive MoMA 2009 [00:39]. Live impromptu performance at MoMA. Sound is a carrier of information. A weekday afternoon in 2009, with permission sound amplification provided ny MoMA. - AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Break Beat Egg 2014 [00:03]. Session material with Ann Hairston. Sound is a carrier of information. - AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Acrosyntactic, Post Traumatic System 2007 16:17. Live theremin interference noise performance at the Stone NYC, curated by Elliott Sharp. Live concert recording 8 bit mono. Sound is a carrier of information. - AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Bitters 11 for 17 (2017) [0:52] Bitters 2017, Anthony Ptak. Drum track written for for Cyrus Pireh This electro-drum work concentrates on sound as a carrier of information. - AJ Ptak

Spoken word story told by Anthony Ptak after a health setback, in the ER of a NYC hospital while in the midst of a pulmonary embolism plus pneumonia, with the assistance of artist and interviewer David Wallace. All sonic materials acquired, and assembled by the composer. - A.J. Ptak

Liner notes: Drum Brat [0:50] Bitters 2017, Anthony Ptak. Drum track written for no one in particular. This electro-drum work concentrates on sound as a carrier of information. - AJ Ptak

The title refers to no memory of this work. All sonic materials acquired, and assembled by the composer. - A.J. Ptak

An informal interview with Anthony Ptak spontaneously conducted by the multitalented writer actress activist advocate journalist Britt Sady in NYC Summer 2016. The background audio still needs a bit more cleanup but I feel it is a timely release in the current state of noise reduction. I talk with Britt about life humanity emotion music motor neurons disability brain cancer illness theremin technique theatre and the possibility of being omniscient. - A.J. Ptak

All sonic materials acquired, and assembled by the composer. - A.J. Ptak

This sound recording by Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Zen Log Drum (2014) [1:35] This recording concentrates on a traditional Japanese Log Drum at the Zen Center, 23rd Street, NYC. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics of the log drum are recorded. Sound is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The temporal heterophony of the drum is navigation. All sonic materials acquired, and assembled by the composer. - A.J. Ptak

Liner notes: Tumbleweed (2009) [46:22] Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 8:30 p.m.. 20 Greene Street between Canal and Grand Streets, SoHo, New York, NY. Tumbleweed A collaborative performance installation for prepared electric guitars, theremin and projections by David Means with Cyrus Pireh and Anthony Ptak. Tumbleweed combines archival images from the American dust bowl with interactions and improvisations of musicians and live electronics. Sound as a carrier of information. -AJ Ptak

Liner notes: Acrosynaxis (2006) [2:11] Acrosynaxis, Anthony Ptak. Utilizing the theremin principle of interference to feed back into itself an exponential deconstruction of the instrument, the frequency of oscillation along a unified temporal axis, reflects a recursive bridging of distance in a soundscape of interference. Much like the 1000th of a second captured image of Warrick's hovering hummingbird, or the Kino-Glaz reality 24 times per second delineated by Dziga Vertov, or John Cage's Future of Music Credo which alludes to Beethoven as a material operating at 50 times per second and rejects imitative use of the theremin. This electro-acousmatic work concentrates on sound as a carrier of information. - AJ Ptak

This sound art installation by artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Phonologistic Auralities 1 (2006) [4:00] Phonologistic Auralities Sound Art Installation opens April 21, 2006 at Independent Media Center Urbana, Illinois. 24-channel collaborative work in a former US postal facility with 13 of my sound artist students. Part of an immersive arts event Late Night Space curated by improviser Jason Finkelman for Boneyard Arts Festival. Sponsored by 40 North Champaign County Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council. Credits: Alex Valasco, Christopher Willard, Frederick Follmer, Pat Fahrner, Christine Don, Teresa Gale, Andrew Graham, Vincent Murphy, Jessica Roberts, Collin Bradford, Nate Wallace, Russell Weiss, Anthony Ptak. Sound is an axis of information. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Soho2 (2016) [0:19] This computer music work concentrates on minimal synth information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. Quickly cobbled together using my Chromebook and cobble stones. 160 bpm. Not yet certain. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Soho (2016) [0:24] This computer music work concentrates on minimal synth information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. Quickly cobbled together using my Chromebook and cobble stones. Not yet certain. - AJ Ptak

This sound of sound artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Phonography [09:56] consists of unprocessed binaural field recordings by Anthony Ptak circa 2005 assembled for presentation at the Garden, curated by Ben Owen. Includes cooking sounds, the voice of my grandma Violet, black birds migrating at IAS in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University building ambient interiors, Chinatown shops and pedestrians in New York City, Slavoj Zizek public lecture, Saint Thomas Church organ at 1 W 53rd St, New York City, NY 10019-5401, voice of my father, a grandfather clock at IAS Princeton, New York City Subway train, A phonography of phonography, homeless man coughing, the voice of Ben Owen introducing a previous garden performance, Phonography meeting I 2005, a cell phone call incoming, fire engines, my voice. Are you still there? New York Phonographers at 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden, Lower East Side, New York City, NY. September 30, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. -A.J. Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Squiggles [00:21] Moog Etherwave theremin using echo effects created for a DJ collaborative project. More a snippet than a composition. -A.J. Ptak

This live recording of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Post Traumatic System [3:30] This computer/ theremin music work concentrates on difference frequencies as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics are generated sine wave partials, synthetically generated interference phenomena. Sound is a virtual axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the score is navigation. The most anticipated 2008 performance at The Stone in East Village of New York City. Series curator Elliott Sharp. Recorded live in 8-bit mono March 25, 2008 at 10:00 p.m.. The Stone is at the corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street. Theremin antenna control of analog and digital oscillators, custom software. All sonic materials generated, performed, improvised and recorded by the composer. Thanks to Elliott Sharp. Dedicated to my late father. -A J Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: No Apologies [6:18] A live performance Sunday October 22, 2006 at 3:15 p.m..on hacked solo thereminvox recorded live at Noisefest! October 20 - 22 , 2006 - LNAC Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center 3301 Lemp Ave. St Louis, Missouri. Experimental Aesthetic and Composition Workshop. Dedicated to Herbert Brün. -AJ Ptak

This sound of performance artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Before the Flood (2014) [4:02] Before the Flood 2013 is an original composition by Anthony Ptak, this performance was recorded a Gildas Club NYC after participation in an interview for the yet to be released documentary film Love Gilda. Anthony Ptak is an artist, composer, and cancer survivor. Here he plays the piano after his brain cancer had seriously debilitated his left hand. The title has a double meaning. The piano has since been removed from Gildas Club following a building flood that did serious damage, also the metaphor of flood has not been lost on the composer. That is to say, flood of tears, flood of emotion, cancer itself, etc. Dedicated to persons with cancer, and their families everywhere. -AJ Ptak

This sound of artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Elephant Ears (2010) [1:54] This acoustic stereo recording concentrates on sound as art, as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The field recording of the heavy steel plating on concrete floor is to be analyzed, scrutinized. Elephant ears, Elephant tears.This barely there recording was made in DUMBO, Brooklyn along an axis that occupies and transforms space. The reflected sound is navigation. Sonic materials acquired, performed, improvised, recorded and assembled by the composer. Contemplative sonic experience. Less minimal, more subtle. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Motif (2013) [5:12] This recording by Anthony Ptak utilizes an electric guitar via loop pedal layers. The recording was made in a rudimentary fashion using a First Act guitar amplifier, and a Zoom H2 recorder built in stereo microphone nearby. No post-processing was applied. A minimalist music approach was explored in this experimental art music work. Influences of Steve Reich, Cyrus Pireh, and Tony Conrad may be present in this motif, defined as a short succession of notes producing a single impression; a brief melodic or rhythmic formula out of which longer passages are to be developed. -AJ Ptak

This sound of sound artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Bitters_1 (2016) [0:31] This electro-drum work concentrates on sound as a carrier of rhythmic information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics of the natural world are analyzed, along with synthetically generated phenomena. Sound is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The offset beat of the electronic drum is navigation. All sonic materials programmed, performed, and assembled by the composer. - A.J. Ptak

This sound of sound artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Commissioned work for dance choreography (2013) [07:46] This electroacoustic work concatenates sounds improvised as carriers of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The movement of the performing gesture are analyzed, along with choreography. This composition presents a physical axis that occupies and transforms dance space. The heterophony of the cacophony is navigation. Sonic materials performed, improvised, invented recorded, and presented by the composer. by Anthony Ptak (Axoxnxs) on a variety of instruments and materials. This work was never presented as a complete dance work. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: New York Theremin Society International Edition (2013) [05:20] This electronic work concentrates on theremin and computing as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The electronics of the performing gesture are analyzed, along with computational FFT acoustic physics phenomena. This composition is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the antenna is navigation. Sonic materials programmed, performed, improvised, invented and presented by the composer. by Anthony Ptak (Axoxnxs) on his Gaken theremin Premium and computer. Joes Pub, at the Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette Street at Astor Place. New York, NY 10003. Friday, June 28, 2013 Live! NYC. - AJ Ptak

This music by artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: New Interfaces for Musical Expression, Sydney, Australia 2010. NIME Live Bar-coding. Performance using a repurposed bar code scanner and barcoded cards as an input to a software interface. Cards are scanned live during performance to dramatic effect. The performance was recorded off of the house mixing board direct to a Sound Devices digital PCM wav recorder. - A.J. Ptak

This music by artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: A sudden and rare brain tumor leads to an accomplished musician’s brush with death and a gap between his brain and his body – but Anthony Ptak will make music any way he can, Narrative.ly. Live piano performance at Caffe Vivaldi by artist composer Anthony Ptak. NYC. 2012. - A.J. Ptak

This sound of artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: This work performed by Anthony Ptak on his invented reed instrument called the Copper Pipe. The recording was made in Urbana, IL inside a concrete drainage pipe. I also did several recordings in the Round Barn, but I believe this natural reverberation is from the acoustics of the drain pipe. This is purely an acoustic recording of an improvised composition. No further processing was applied to the original PCM wav file. Recorded using a digital Marantz PMD-600 stereo field recording device using the built-in internal microphones. I built the copper pipe instrument in Barcelona, Spain. It is an open hole instrument with a saxophone reed. Simple means, complex results. The Copper Pipe Project. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Nullsleep_Axoxnxs Elusive Live collaboration (2009) [16:20] This electronic work concentrates on chiptunes and physical computing as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The electronics of the performers gesture are analyzed, along with 8-bit hacking and computational acoustical physics phenomena. This glitch collaboration is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the computation is navigation. Sonic materials hacked, performed, improvised, invented and presented by the composers. Jeremiah Johnson aka Nullsleep (8bitpeoples) live 8-bit chiptunes performance accompanied by Anthony Ptak (Axoxnxs) on his Elusive Instrument for Shove, at The Tank, Tue, MAY 19, 2009 9.30pm. 354 W. 45th Street between 8th and 9th Ave. Live! NYC. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Guitar Therapy (2012) [2:24] This electric guitar work concentrates on jazz improvisation as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The field recordings of the street drummer in Washington Square Park are analyzed, along with post-cancer disability and neurological phenomena. Spasticity is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the guitar is navigation. Sonic materials acquired, performed, improvised, recorded and assembled by the composer. A therapeutic struggle to control my affected left hand. - AJ Ptak

Rehearsal performance of graphic score Difference Frequencies, with Serge Zenisek, violin.

This sound of composer artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Ekphoneticasulponticello (2005) [2:00] This solo electro-acousmatic performance work concentrates on sound as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics of this invented instrument are analyzed, along with acoustically generated phenomena. Sound is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of this invented instrument is navigation. All sonic materials crafted, performed, and assembled by the composer. This artwork is intended to evoke both the abstract and functional aspects of music. It is a visual representation, a sculpture of the physical space music occupies. It is also an instrument that can be played in any tuning configuration. Vibration is transferred from steel to wood. Many experiments were done using a device called a monochord inspired by the mathematician Pythagoras in the 6th century BC; it had one string used to measure ratios. Ekphonetic notation, to which the title refers, was one of the earliest attempts to systematize the way in which we hear (reception) and play music (transmission). This notation was based on speech and not exact pitch in Greece and Asia in the 5th to 7th centuries AD. Sulponticello means to play near or on the bridge of the instrument resulting in a sound with a voice-like rasp when bowed and more upper harmonic frequencies when plucked. With this instrument the artist seeks to create complex results from simple economical means. The work serves as a kinetic reference to the temporal (horizontal) and the timbrel (vertical) aspects of a musical axis. The receiver of this work is encouraged to examine systems critically and to experiment as listener, observer, and composer in the world. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: A Concert for Solo Theremin in La Granja, Spain (2006) [18:22] Calart Actual - Iglesia de San Juan Nepomuceno July 22, 2006 8pm at Plaza del Teatro S/N Real Sitio de la Granja de San Ildefonso - 40100 Segovia - Espana. This live polyphonic solo theremin performance work recorded in LaGranja, Spain concentrates on sound as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics of the performance space are analyzed, along with synthetically generated phenomena. Sound is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the theremin antenna is navigation. All sonic materials acquired, performed, and improvised by the composer. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Difference Frequencies (2015) [5:00] This computer music work concentrates on difference frequencies as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics of the physics world are generated sine wave partials, synthetically generated phenomena. Sound is a virtual axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the score is navigation. All sonic materials generated, performed, and assembled by the composer. - AJ Ptak

This sound of theremin artist Anthony Ptak. Liner notes: Axoxnxs (2005) [7:00] This electro-acousmatic work concentrates on sound as a carrier of information. We listen to the world as a system of associative indices. The acoustics of the natural world are analyzed, along with synthetically generated phenomena. Sound is a physical axis that occupies and transforms space. The heterophony of the theremin antenna is navigation. All sonic materials acquired, performed, and assembled by the composer. - A.J. Ptak