Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Abstract

CRUSHER (2013), by Michael Schelle, was commissioned by Aichi Prefectoral University of Music and Fine Arts (Japan) for guitarist Zane Merritt. The piece was premiered in Nagoya, Japan in July 2013, by Zane and composer/pianist Michael Schelle during Schellefest 2013 (a two-week 'guest composer' residency). The title (and the piece): a play on the names - and the personalities - of "The Crusher", a powerful 1950's professional wrestler .. who often tag-teamed with his cousin Dick the Bruiser.. (both Zane and I are big Pro Wrestling fans!). The piece also winks to the fiery / passionate / compassionate Beverly Crusher, M.D. (Star Trek TNG), drifting in space. The 'form' / process / sound of the piece is also 'inspired' by those giant industrial crushing machines (crushers are used to reduce the size, or change the form, of materials so they can be more easily disposed of or recycled, or to reduce the size of a solid mix of raw materials (as in rock ore), so that pieces of different composition can be differentiated and/or fused). The primary influence for CRUSHER, however, was the powerful and lightning fast performance capabilities of my good friend, composer/guitarist Zane Merritt .. zanemerritt.bandcamp.com/ This "Live" recording: Buffalo, NY : October 2013

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Copyright © Michael Schelle, all rights reserved.

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