- Vi Hart
- mathemusician
- Posted: 11/30/11 | Recorded at Gel 2011
Mathematical constraints can help create beautiful music. Two minutes in you'll hear Vi Hart's "self referential string quartet" in which each instrument plays its own name - using the binary representation of the ASCII value of each letter. And she goes from there, in one of the most inventive Gel talks ever.
More of Vi Hart's brilliant explorations into math and music are at her site, vihart.com.
- Daniel's Music Foundation
- free music classes for people with disabilities
- Posted: 11/17/11 | Recorded at Gel 2011
While recovering from a brain aneurysm, Daniel Trush showed such enthusiasm for music that he and his father founded Daniel's Music Foundation (see danielsmusic.org). Hundreds of people with disabilities in New York City now enjoy free musical instruction thanks to their efforts.
At Gel 2011, Daniel's Music Foundation brought together a full on-stage ensemble to describe how they work and perform two songs. (See also Daniel and Ken's Gel Health talk from 2009.)
- Jace Clayton
- DJ /rupture
- Posted: 10/20/11 | Recorded at Gel 2011
The most important skill for a DJ to have, explains Jace Clayton, is listening. And not only to the music: understanding the audience is just as important.
Jace Clayton performs around the world as DJ /rupture and here at Gel begins and ends his talk with exquisitely crafted samples of his work. A singular Gel presentation.
Jace's blog: negrophonic.com
Jace's radio show, Mudd Up!, is on WFMU on Mondays at 8pm Eastern.
- Johnnyswim
- Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez
- Posted: 09/27/11 | Recorded at Gel 2011
- 1 comment
A spectacular musical performance from JOHNNYSWIM. Crank up the speakers, watch it in full-screen mode, and enjoy. The whole set is excellent but the song starting at 17:30 would make a good anthem for the world today.
- Gel 2011 titles 2
- Animation for first Friday session
- Posted: 07/26/11 | Recorded at Gel 2011
- 1 comment
Starting off the first of four speaker sessions on Friday, April 29, 2011, these animated titles showed the full visual expression of the Gel 2011 theme: breaking the barrier. You'll need to watch it multiple times to catch all of the creative touches added by the animators.
Conceived and designed by Thornberg & Forester. Music by Andrew Huang.
- Gel 2011 titles 1
- Animation for conference start
- Posted: 07/12/11 | Recorded at Gel 2011
These animated titles began the Gel 2011 conference and set the visual theme for the whole event - and indeed referenced the conference theme as well ("breaking the barrier"). The narrative of the animation was developed further in subsequent animations, as each speaker session began with its own title movie.
Conceived and designed by Thornberg & Forester. Music by Andrew Huang.
- The Gregory Brothers
- Creators of Auto-Tune the News
- Posted: 06/13/10 | Recorded at Gel 2010
- 4 comments
The team behind Auto Tune the News, the phenomenal video serios, takes us behind the scenes to see how the experience is created.
- Eric Singer
- Founder, The League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots
- Posted: 06/04/10 | Recorded at Gel 2010
This robot can really play. The GuitarBot begins Eric Singer's presentation, live on stage, after which Eric explains the thinking behind some of his other projects in LEMUR: the League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots.
- Rob Kapilow
- Composer, conductor, pianist, and music commentator
- Posted: 05/27/10 | Recorded at Gel 2010
- 1 comment
Rob Kapilow brings music into people's lives: opening new ears to musical experiences and helping people to listen actively rather than just hear. And at Gel 2010 he explored how to listen for "things that make you go hmmmm."
- The Ebony Hillbillies
- African-American bluegrass band
- Posted: 05/27/10 | Recorded at Gel 2010
As one of the last black string bands in the U.S. - and the only one currently based in NYC - the Ebony Hillbillies keep an important legacy alive with a rootsy, homegrown style that many forget was a key element in the genesis of all the music we cherish as uniquely American: jazz, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, rock and roll, and country.
- Daniel and Ken Trush
- Founders, Daniel's Music Foundation
- Posted: 04/08/10 | Recorded at Gel Health '09
Daniel and his father Ken founded Daniel's Music Foundation (see danielsmusic.org) to provide free music classes to people with disabilities.
Daniel describes the foundation's genesis this way: "When I was 12 years old, one of my five brain aneurysms burst in my head while I was playing basketball. I was in a coma for 30 days and hospitalized for 341 days, but who's counting? Although I still face challenges, music has always played an important role in my life. It helped me in my recovery and still brings me happiness. I want to share this gift with you."
- Olie Westheimer
- Founder, Brooklyn Parkinson Group
- Posted: 03/15/10 | Recorded at Gel Health '09
- 3 comments
People with Parkinson's disease have a lot in common with dancers, explains Olie Westheimer: they are constantly learning how to move. With this in mind, Olie co-founded "Dance for PD," a series of dance classes for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers - taught by professional dancers in Brooklyn's Mark Morris Dance Group. This story shows the difference that one person can make, in creating a community - and the difference a community can make in the world.
See also: Brooklyn Parkinson Group
- The Flying Karamazov Brothers
- Jugglers, artists, performers
- Posted: 02/23/10 | Recorded at Gel 2005
Showcasing their tremendous multidimensional talents, the Flying Karamazov Brothers performed four short segments at Gel 2005. In this segment the brothers start with a perfectly executed juggling routine and end with "a gift from heaven."
See also: FKB's touring schedule
- Bruce Shapiro
- motion control artist
- Posted: 01/21/10 | Recorded at Gel 2005
Choreographing a robotic arm to create art - even dance - is no small feat, but Bruce Shapiro delivers both in this Gel talk. See also Bruce's site, The Art of Motion Control.
- Bruce Molsky
- Musician
- Posted: 12/28/09 | Recorded at Gel 2009
- 1 comment
Well-known for performing traditional Appalachian music, Bruce Molsky also blends folk music styles from across the world.
- Alison Young
- Singer-songwriter
- Posted: 03/19/09 | Recorded at euroGel '06
Songwriter, singer, and uke player Alison Young was a hit in Copenhagen at euroGel 2006. Here are two of her songs.
- Lelavision
- Musicians, sculptors, performers
- Posted: 02/19/09 | Recorded at Gel 2008
- 2 comments
Like many of the best Gel presenters, Lelavision is difficult to describe in a few words. Are they musicians who sculpt? Or dancers who weld? Their performance here blends music, design, nature, sculpture, choreography, play, and a commitment to the simple, handmade item.
- Andrew
- Composer, performer
- Posted: 01/21/09 | Recorded at Gel 2007
- 2 comments
Andrew is a composer with a twist: he creates songs by request. Readers of his website (songstowearpantsto.com) email him ideas - often silly, random, or ridiculous - which he dutifully turns into full-fledged songs. They're often surprisingly catchy and witty, and Andrew's range of musical styles is amazing. He's an outstanding Gel presenter who, like others we've seen, takes "throwaway" material and creates something great.
See also - Sam Brown from Gel 2008, who draws cartoons from reader-submitted ideas
- Jim Bumgardner
- Hacker, krazydad.com
- Posted: 11/19/08 | Recorded at Gel 2007
- 1 comment
- Jim discusses screensavers, information theory, and (with crowd participation) the Whitney music box, which sets an algorithm to music. Blending visual, musical, technical, mathematical, and intentionally useless elements, Jim gives a notable Gel talk.
A few months later, Jim posted a recap of his Gel experience.
