Below is a collection of music recordings by Bandelion director Eric Kupers (and a few by the Bandelion ensemble.) These are offered freely to anyone who would like to download and use them. They are intended as supports for teaching, choreography, performance, training, and whatever creative activity they can be useful for. They were created initially out of Eric’s desire for longer, more open-ended, and less commercial music to use for teaching and training.
This collection is a work-in-progress. Check back periodically for updates and new music.
We ask that you give credit to Eric and/or Bandelion when you use this music for something public. If you feel inspired to offer a donation to help support this effort, please visit our support page HERE.
And please let us know if these are useful for you and if you have any requests for music in particular meters, keys, or feels.
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SPECIAL OFFERING: Here’s a rough recording of Frank’s Love, our song to honor Frank Shawl: Frank’s Love – Rehearsal Take #1
I (Eric) am going to switch to first person here to describe the music in more detail. Most of these recordings are experiments I conducted with my looper and various instruments. Most were recorded live in one take, so there are many unrefined elements (balance of instrument volumes, tempo drifting, and other glitches.) I feel some of them work better than others, but all might be useful for different people in different contexts.
If there are any of these that you especially resonate with, and would like a more refined recording of, or a recording with specific parameters, please let me know. If I have time, I’d love to create something that you can use in your work. Contact me at eric@dandeliondancetheater.org.
SECTION I – Drones
These tracks are all drones of one kind or another. Some have lots of texture, and some are more “pure.” They are all based on the “root” and the “fifth” of each key, so can be used to accompany explorations in both major and minor keys.
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SECTION II – Bits and Bobs
The following tracks are sketches of many different musical ideas. I tried to keep them short so that I can use them in a random shuffle to accompany dance/music/theater improvisations. Many of these ideas have longer, more in-depth versions in Section III. Many of them could be counted in multiple ways, but I placed them in the grouping that reflects how I count them.
Threes
Fours
1.75_minute_C_in_4_happy_dance
2.5_minute_F#_bells_Collage_in_4
Fives
2.5_minute_Dminor-ish_in_5_moyo
Sixes
2.75_minute_Eminor_in_6_with_Calimba
2.5_minute_Eminor_in_6_Calimba_#2
Sevens
4.5_minute_Aminor_in_slow_7_OMP_final_chorus
3_minute_Aminor_in_7_Macedonsko_Devocje
Nines
Elevens
3_minute_F#_in_11_Slow_Build_Song
Thirteens
3.5_minute_Db_in_13_To_the_Wild
Mixed Meter (or no meter)
1.5_minute_Random_Spacious_Bells_and_Drum
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SECTION III – Extended Dance Class Jams
These are mostly 10 minutes or more in length, and are extended jams that keep a steady tempo the whole time. I divided them into their different time meters. Again, many of them could be counted in multiple ways, but I placed them in the grouping that reflects how I count them.
Threes
Fours
10_minute_F#minor_in_4_Slow_Build_Bells
Fives
10_minute_Eminor_jam_in_5_Walk_Between
10_minute_D_minor-ish_in_5_Moyo_Drum
Sevens
10_minute_D_jam_in_7_techno_Beat
6_minute_Aminor_in_slow7_OMP_Final_Chorus
11_minute_Aminor_in_7_Macedonsko_Devocje
11_minute_in_7_chimes_waterphone_techno_beat
Elevens
10_minute_F#minor_in_11_Slow_Build_Song
15_minute_in_11_moyo_waterphone_mandolin
Thirteens
10_minute_Dbminor_in_13_To_The_Wild_Instrumental
Mixed Meters (or none at all)
6_minute_Random_Spacious_Bells_and_Drum
10.5_minute_Random_Spacious_Bells_and_Drum
Click Here for longer tracks in dropbox folder
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SECTION IV – Bandelion Recordings
These recordings were made by Bandelion.
The ones with “SOOP” in the title were part of our Stories of Our People album. They were written by Eric Kupers, with additions by Keith Penney and the performers. They were performed by Chris Evans, Christof Gallegos, Corissa “Reese” Johnson, Eric Kupers, Keith Penney, and Frances Sedayao. More info about each one can be found here: Stories of Our People Album Notes. They were recorded, engineered and mixed at Flowinglass Music in Oakland, CA, by Kristoph Klover www.flowinglass.com
The ones with “Live in Emeryville” in the title were written by Eric Kupers with Keith Penney, and performed by Eric Kupers, Suki O’Kane, Keith Penney, Mantra Plonsey, Anne-lise Reusswig, David Ryther, and Benjamin Wright. They were recorded live at Expressions Studio in Emeryville, CA. They were mixed and mastered by Keith Penney.
Again I’ve organized them by how I would count each one, but of course there are many ways to interpret the meter of each piece.
Fours / Eights
Bandelion-Percy-Revealed-Live-in-Emeryville
Bandelion_Underneath-Live-in-Emeryville
Fives
Bandelion_SOOP_Rosh_HaShanah_5775_WalkBetween
Bandelion-Further-into-Glass-Live-in-Emeryville
Nines
Bandelion_SOOP_The_Seam_Response
Elevens
Twelves
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SECTION V – DanceSing Backing Tracks
I use these recordings when I teach DanceSing technique, which is an inter-weaving of modern dance and singing exercises. They can also be used for other accompaniment, performance, and explorations. I’ve uploaded some demonstration videos of the exercises that I do with each of these recordings.
Major Scale Cunningham Bounces: I use this track to sing along with while doing the version of the Cunningham Technique bounces that I learned from Ellie Klopp. It moves up and down the major scale, starting from each step of the scale itself.
Warrior Intervals – Ionian Mode (Major): I use this to sing along with while doing a series of hatha yoga asanas.
DanceSing_Warrior_Intervals_Ionian
Warrior Intervals – Aeolian Mode (Natural Minor): Same as above but in the natural minor. There’s also a longer intro to get tuned into the minor key.
DanceSing_Warrior_Intervals_Aeolian
Wade in the Water Quadlabet Backing: This is a 4/4 piece in the Key of C, at 100 beats per minute (bpm). I use it for a series of movement exercises that are done at the same time as singing African American Spirituals taught to me by Ysaye Marie Barnwell, as well as songs from other cultures that I’ve added into Ysaye’s mix. It’s nice and long (22 minutes) to allow for extended play.
Wade_Quardlabet_Backing_in_C_100bpm
Wade in the Water Quadlabet Backing – Faster: This is a similar piece to above, sped up to 114 beats per minute.
Wade_Quardlabet_Backing_Fast_in_C_114bpm
Bija Mantra Pliés: This is based on a chant of Sanskrit Seed Syllables (or Bija Mantras–Lam/Vam/Ram/Yam/Ham/Aum) that I use for accompanying a plié exercise.
Bija Mantra Pliés Faster: A faster version of the above piece.
Cross-Lateral Half Steps: I use this to accompany a series of cross-lateral movements I learned from Randee Paufve. The singing goes up and down by half steps, in shorter and shorter increments.
DanceSing_Cross_Lateral_Half_Steps
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