Behind the Scenes

Shots from my Indiegogo video shoot.

Final Circus Screamer

Committing suicide in front of thousands of screaming fans is only fitting for the murderous, masochistic, maniacal, Suicide Sid. The killer of circus performers, loudly and vividly snuffs himself out in the fifth and final circus screamer.

Roaring around the big top working his fans in to a foaming frenzy, he takes his place in front of the three-story jump. Attacking the jump with the fury of a starved animal, he takes flight. At the summit of his ascent he leaps off the motorcycle, spreads his arms, and soars.

A single melody moans as Suicide Sid descends to his death. Broken phrases and disjointed thirds play as the crowd watches his lifeless body being hauled off. In shock and weeping the audience exits the big top.

It won’t be discovered until weeks later that Suicide Sid was responsible for the murder of four other circus performers. His name will go in the paper. His posters will out sale the snow cones.

To finish on a high note, a suicide note was found in Sid’s dressing room following his death stating that all of his stunt bikes should be donated to charity.

Listen here.

Corral of Fire

No horses were hurt in the constructing of this piece. Yes they were.

My fourth of five circus screamers reveals the latest tragedy to come to a circus performer--death by fire. Corral of Fire is the first circus screamer I've written with the prancing piano. A rock was placed on the sustain pedal to keep the mood. As the corral is built in the shadow of the spotlight, performers and horses march into the big top to the click of triplets. Marching soon gives way to a frenzied cantor that quickly gives way to a chaotic race to escape the hot lick of flames.

To spoil the story, all the horses, though singed and marred, escape alive. The lead horseman, however, march as he may cannot escape the burning corral.

Shall we march?

Mixed results

Three musical gems have emerged from our mixing sessions. The glimmer of each has already been put to work per its power and propensity to transfix. One is fueling a small moped down to Mexico. Another was sold to a silver-faced street performer. The third was pitched to AMC for a new TV show about carnivals. Each musical gem is casting a shadow. Each is as unpredictable as a wolf.

Here is Highwire Hanging:

Recording at Laughing Tiger

Like a virgin before the sacrificial alter I entered the recording studio known as The Laughing Tiger. After the doors shut behind me I was left smiling in the dark with whip in hand. When the roaring reached an unbearable height I broke the lock, releasing the beast from the cage.

A demonic duo from the unpredictable land of Craigslist performed The Doubtful Guest art song with chilling effect.

The boisterous organ enthusiast, Mr. Miotke, matched note for note the Highwire Hanging circus screamer with the timing of church bells.

Conservatory kids straight from the halls of the…Conservatory marched in with their uniforms tightly pressed and brass instruments in tow. After hoarsely clearing their airways, they easily blew the shine off the walls.

Finally the engineer of the evening, Matt Cohen, pounded out the marching, throbbing, listing percussion of the Highwire Hanging. And it was complete.

By nightfall I had overdosed on circus music bliss. My lips were twitching, my right ear had gone completely deaf and my hips wouldn’t stop shaking.

A follow up recording session happens this week. Then we mix. Then we slay. Then we dine.

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Daredevil Dance

My third circus screamer in a series of five. This latest piece captures the corpse cannon rolling out, blasting out the daredevil, and the descent...to dirt. The only sounds not captured were the breaking bones and severed limbs. Here is the latest.

Hair Hanging Heroines

Each year the circus comes to town and I watch the train come to a steeming halt. Lions, tigers, elephants, zebras, minature ponies, lamas, and the rest of the menagerie spill out the doors like the last survivors of Noah's Arc. Performers galavant around with bike horns, whips and motorcycles. And musicians masquerade.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, The Greatest Show on Earth shock Oakland this year. Traditional circus performances mixed with daredevil stunts and new sideshow acts kept the audience screaming and squirming. My favorite: The Hair Hanging Heroines were eye-popping.

Original music throughout the show came from composer Michael Picton. Schemingly, I listening to the circus band perform. Observantly I memorized the cues. Slowly I plotted to take over.

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New Website

After a month of bending boards and pressing metal the little people I hired to build this small site erected my vision. The feat wasn't easy. So the success is that much sweeter. Only one limb was lost, and only three people quit during the construction. That's better odds than a common sideshow troope rehearsal. 

To the Dwarf Developers, thank you. Your small hands and indespensible whit are unmatched. I only wish you built human size instruments, then we could collaborate more.

Enjoy what you see. As Mr. Hiss continues to compose and produce work, you'll see it here; untattered, stained and undead as originally intended.

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