Vanderbilt University: Blair School of Music Application
Portfolio
Application to the position of
Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition
Work Sample 1: Bathymetry
Work Sample 2: Topography
Work Sample 3: Buoy
Work Sample 4: For Triangles
Work Sample 1 - Bathymetry
an album and composition for percussion and analog synthesizer on Cantaloupe Music
Suggested excerpt listening: ‘Bathymetry 5 - Groundswell’ and ‘Bathymetry 6 - Surface’
About ‘Bathymetry’
‘Bathymetry’ is an album of music for percussion and analog synthesizer by composer, Matt McBane and Sandbox Percussion, to be released on Cantaloupe Music on November 4, 2022. It draws on various strains of classical minimalism and modern electronic music production, as well as youtube asmr and ambient modular synth videos. ‘Bathymetry’ is a 40 minute piece in 8 movements scored for a monophonic Moog analog synthesizer, a mix of found instruments (mixing bowl, glass bottles, etc), orchestral percussion (vibraphone, tam tam, etc), and drum sets. The word bathymetry essentially means the topography of the ocean floor, and the bass synthesizer sounds interact with the treble percussion sounds in a way reminiscent of how the ocean floor shapes the waves passing above. The album was composed and produced, and the synthesizer was performed by Matt McBane, the percussion was performed by Sandbox Percussion, and the album was recorded and mixed by Joseph Branciforte.
Press:
One of Wilco Recommends 2022 albums
Best Contemporary Classical of the Month on Bandcamp
“fascinating interplay both in the match of timbres and the way the synth reshapes some of the sounds … the real pleasure is getting lost in the details.” - Peter Margasak, Bandcamp
“a remarkable wonder” – Foxy Digitalis
“Bathymetry is a musical and sensory journey like no other that has been offered in contemporary music recently.”
“One of the most interesting albums of the year” – PAN M 360
“an electroacoustic tour de force” — Steve Smith, Night After Night
“his music, which pairs delicate textures with deep resonances, finds a depth like that of the ocean, painting an enthralling picture of the vast underwater world.” — Vanessa Ague, National Sawdust Flash Review
“McBane and Sandbox use monophonic Moog analog synthesizer, found instrument percussion (mixing bowls, ping pong balls, glass bottles), orchestral percussion and drum sets, drawing on minimalism and achieving something close to ambient music to evoke the mysterious underwater depths.” - John Schaefer, WNYC New Sounds
Work Sample 2 - Topography
a 45-minute septet for cello, percussion, piano and synthesizer
Suggested excerpt listening: ‘Topography 6 - Scales’ (from 3:24) and ‘Topography 3 - Drones’ (from beginning)
Video of excerpts from each of the 6 movements:
Complete video of premiere (playlist of 6 movements):
About Topography
‘Topography’ is a septet for cello, synthesizer, piano and percussion. This 45-minute piece is made up of 6 individual movements ranging from textural, ambient slow-movements focused on sound design, to pattern-based, contrapuntal fast-movements anchored by interlocking rhythms in the drums. It was premiered in December 2023 by Ashley Bathgate and Mantra Percussion at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, co-presented and broadcast by WNYC’s New Sounds.
The movements of ‘Topography’ are made of big gestures and gradually changing patterns that accumulate to evoke open spaces and natural landscapes. It is the terrestrial companion to my oceanic album-length composition ‘Bathymetry’, released November 2022 on Cantaloupe Music in collaboration with Sandbox Percussion.
The piece at times functions as concerto with the cellist in a solo role and at other times as a septet with all players given equal weight. In addition to the cello, the percussion “orchestra” consists of both standard and found percussion instruments as well as analog synthesizers (played live), piano and drum set, all played by the 6 percussionists. This instrumentation allows for a tremendous range of timbres and textures as well as the intersection of acoustic and electronic sounds to explore, in addition to all the sonic potentials of the cello.
Work Sample 3 - ‘Buoy’
These tracks demonstrate my electronic music production as well as my violin playing. No scores were created for this music.
Suggested excerpt listening: ‘Arpeggiator’, ‘Eleven Eleven’, ‘Buoy’
About Buoy
‘Buoy’ is an album of patterns and ambiance for synthesizers and violin by composer, electronic musician and violinist, Matt McBane.
It is his first primarily electronic album and first entirely solo album on which he plays a variety of analog synthesizers (modular and fixed), violin, piano and bass guitar, and manipulates it all in his computer. While this album marks a new development in McBane’s work, it is rooted in many of the same musical currents as his past music – the patterns and processes of classical minimalism, the sonic manipulation of electronic music, the elemental qualities of fiddle music, emotional nuance, cinematic space, counterpoint, atmosphere – all filtered through the voltages of his synthesizers.
It is the follow-up to his 2022 album on Cantaloupe Music for percussion and synthesizer, ‘Bathymetry’, called an album of the year by Wilco, an album of the month by Bandcamp, and “a musical and sensory journey like no other that has been offered in contemporary music recently” by Montreal’s Pan M 360.
Select Press
“a stunning blend of neoclassical instrumentation and minimalist modular synth music”
- Bandcamp, New and Notable
“Matt McBane crafts vivid sonic landscapes through intricate patterns and fluid atmospheres on his latest album, Buoy. Synthesizers drift through gently propulsive rhythms, reshaping perspectives into nuanced moods and speculative reflections. Movement is at the heart of Buoy, with evolving sequences drawing emotional depth from shifting melodies and rich, tonal dreamscapes.”
“It’s a stunning achievement.”
- Brad Rose, Foxy Digitalis
“An adventurous and visionary composer, electronic musician and violinist, Matt McBane is one of the most exciting voices in contemporary music. Bridging the acoustic and electronic worlds in thrilling ways, his music engrosses you with its intricate patterns, lush soundscapes and emotional depth. His recent LP, Buoy, a record of patterns and ambiance for synthesizers and violin, is one of our favourite listens this year.”
- Cast the Dice
Work Sample 4 - ‘For Triangles’
For percussion quartet of 4 triangles
‘For Triangles’ has been performed by percussion ensembles at universities across the US, and by ensembles in Asia, Europe and South America, including Los Angeles Percussion Quartet (USA), Toolbox Percussion (Hong Kong), and Martelo (Brazil).
Program note:
‘For Triangles’ is inspired by the simple design and complex sound of the triangle. It is an extended meditation on the sound and the playing techniques of the triangle through the framework of simple mathematic processes and gradually changing patterns. It uses orchestral and Latin playing techniques, and, while entirely acoustic, invokes electronic processing through careful physical manipulation of the instruments.
Press quote:
"The Los Angeles Percussion Quartet made its San Diego County debut, impressing with tight ensemble and musicality. Its concert winner was 'Triangles in the Shape of a Square' by festival founder and director Matt McBane.
McBane calls for four slightly differently-sized triangles, one to a player. Over the course of 20 minutes, different ways of playing a triangle slowly unfold under strict minimalist rhythmic procedures. As Steve Reich produced audible melodies from drums, so too did McBane from triangles. His exploration was so clever and delightful that I could have easily listened to 10 minutes more."
-Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union Tribune