Behind the scenes and up my sleeve where the snakes sleep, we recorded the music for One-Handed Witch. Grammys, she’s coming. Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance? “Huh?” Best Contemporary Classical Composition? “I … ?” One-Handed Witch has her eyes set on one award and one award only: Best Original Witch Music*. Anything else is flea ridden.
The music for One-Handed Witch was the boxspring that started it all. Before the script, before I played the Wizard of Oz slot machine, before I discovered shadow puppets artists in Italy, before, before … and now here it is, in all its Grammy nominated glory. Listen/Buy in Bandcamp.
“But how Hiss? How’d it happen?”
Flashback …
Two years ago, I fell off my bike in the rain on the Lefty O'Doul Bridge in San Francisco and broke my wrist. After an x-ray confirmed my swollen suspicions I started to compose organ music for one hand. Days later while playing a Wizard Of Oz slot machine inspiration struck and I wrote the script for the silent film, One-Handed Witch.
Titles to each piece of music were chosen in accordance with the confusion and chaos of suddenly being one-handed and left handed: One Hand Tied Behind My Back, Sleight of Hand, Pocket Pool, Hand for a Hand, etc.
Post the One-Handed Witch premiere in Oakland, my broken wrist still itched, and the people wanted more—I wrote an additional piece of music for a BONUS scene that was previously acted out on stage. The title was influenced by the news, gun control, and again things you can do with one hand: Shoot Marbles Not Guns.
Flashforward …
The unorthodox score for One-Handed Witch is striking from beginning to end. There are no repeated melodies or themes for characters. Each vignette is a new piece of discordant music. Copulating with film or shaking a concert hall, the music stands on its own. If I had to compare it to anything, it would be … it’s incomparable.
“Is that all, Hisss?”
One more important thing to note about One-Handed Witch, the organ music was written for one hand. A musician can play the entirety of the organ score with one hand tied behind their back—granted your other hand will be very busy playing percussion and your forehead will be sore from banging it against the keys. Paul Dab can play it one-handed. Ask him to show you. It’s amazing. That’s why he got the gig.
Performers on One-Handed Witch include:
Paul Dab - Electric organ
Amy Foote - Spoken word
Samson Y Hiss - Melodica, toy piano, percussion
One-Handed Witch was recorded and mixed by Matt Cohen at Studio 69 in Marin, California. It was mastered by Myle Boylston at Budda Head Mastering in Oakland, California
In short, the music for One-Handed Witch is here and it's Bandcamp Friday; a perfect storm. Get the newly nominated album for Best Original Witch Music*.
-Samson
*Best Original Witch Music is a new category created by Samson Y Hiss. It will be officially announced next year during the 95th Academy Awards if my spell works.
