Stillness (2021, Rev. 2024)

Music available here: www.samuelkerr...
FROM 2021: Sometimes, the space in between notes is the most striking in music. Instances of ‘sudden silence’ can easily become ‘loud silence’ and overwhelm us. In the context of the global COVID-19 crisis, Stillness was commissioned to explore said themes of uncertainty, stress, hope, and our outlook on both artistic and personal futures. The vibraphone is the perfect instrument to entertain such ideas, as demonstrated through manipulation of the attack, sustain, and decay of the simple, pure tones throughout the piece.
Stillness is meant to be calm, peaceful, reflective; moods we all have embraced during the pandemic and resulting social isolation. While playing, consider the ‘sudden silence’ you have experienced through the pandemic-silence where sounds or music would normally be. How has your silence changed?
Performed by Jacob Valcheff
January 11, 2024 - Temerty Theatre, Toronto
Audio/ Video Recording and Editing by Fish Yu

[@thomaslipercussion]

😮🧈

[@noahhawryluck3390]

Beautiful playing Jacob Valcheff

[@thomaslipercussion]

太讚了雅各！我是你最大的粉絲🥰🥰

[@gabrielleeber]

Amazing recording Jacob! Great piece 😁

[@peavy101]

This piece is amazing! Stunning playing, and the video is really nice too. Awesome work.

[@Official_Gprosperous]

What are those 4 large "bells" called? Any specific name for them?

[@samdkerr]

Hey! They’re called ‘almglocken’ (plural), they’re tuned cowbells basically - they have a really beautiful, pure tone that interacts really interestingly with the vibraphone (especially as a few of them are slightly out of tune and make a ‘beating’ sound when played together with a vibe note)

[@jacobvalcheff]

It was an honour to be a part of this - congrats, Sam!!