PEXO—A Soundpainting Symphony is a Soundpainting composition based on the concepts of games. Board games, politics, sports, television quiz shows, mind games, pranks, and children's games, among others. PEXO was first conceived as a theater work during a summer residence at the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony in Woodstock, NY. The theater version of PEXO incorporates musicians, dancers, actors, and visual artists. PEXO, the theater work, later premiered in New York City in March of 2002 at the HERE Arts Center.

PEXO—A Soundpainting Symphony is an aural representation of the theater work. The symphony is not intended to imitate an evening of the theater version but rather to extend the concept through the recording medium. PEXO is my abstracted sound vision of a visit to a television recording studio—seeing the taping of game shows, news programs, the personalities of the hosts, the technical crew making it happen, and the preparation of the audience and their required participation.

PEXO is composed in six movements, each related to the others through the repetition of specific Soundpainting gestures. There were approximately 90 gestures used to compose the entire symphony.

PEXO is a live composition, composed in its entirety during the recording session. There are no edits.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the members of The Walter Thompson Orchestra, who worked so hard to make PEXO happen, and for their ongoing support of my work with Soundpainting. This CD is dedicated to them.

—Walter Thompson

What the critics are saying...

"PEXO is way too provocative and evocative to be swept off the table with last year's favorites."

—Michael Davis, All About Jazz
Full Review

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"There is no end to the variations and combinations possible. Walter Thompson's Soundpainting. Elating!"

—Ingvar Loco Nordin, Sonoloco (Sweden)
Full Review

"Pexo – A Soundpainting Symphony...is as complex in its description as it is enjoyable in its presentation....[T]he music that Thompson composed for this extended improvised symphony is visual, always moving, and sometimes quite amazing. The big band assembled is fluent and intense."

—Mark E. Gallo, JazzReview.com

The Walter Thompson Orchestra

Walter Thompson – Composer/Conductor
Todd Reynolds – Violin/Associate Composer/Conductor
Rolf Sturm – Guitar/Synth
Gil Selinger – Cello
Steve Rust – Double Bass, Electric Bass
Jim Whitney – Double Bass
Rob Henke – Trumpet
Christopher Washburne – Trombone, Tuba
Sarah Weaver – Trombone
Michaël Attias – Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
Jody Espina – Alto Saxophone
Julie Ferrara – Oboe, English Horn
Andrea Pryor – Percussion
Greg Stare – Percussion
Leese Walker – Actor
Michael David Gordon – Actor
Christian Brandjes – Actor

Now available on CD!

PEXO—A Soundpainting Symphony




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