Ken Ficara
  • Male
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • United States
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  • Richard Sanderson

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Ken Ficara replied to Paul H. Muller's discussion ImprovFriday Event for April 19-21, 2012
"Wow, that's a wonderful bit of serendipity then. I spent a year or two trying to learn the details of his "Lost Boy Blues" from the 20s. "
Apr 21
Ken Ficara replied to Paul H. Muller's discussion ImprovFriday Event for April 19-21, 2012
"Thank you, Steve! I debated whether I should put another track on top of the improv, since it was kinda static, but I'm glad I left it as is so you'd have space to do this. I've been liking your mashups better than my…"
Apr 21
Ken Ficara replied to Paul H. Muller's discussion ImprovFriday Event for April 19-21, 2012
"A pure improvisation indeed, while absorbing the sudden reappearance of some almost-forgotten history.  There were barricades on Prince Street I thought it was a movie at first (Unexepected Elegy for Etan) by Ken Ficara (Harmonica, loops,…"
Apr 21
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for February 16-18, 2012
"Lydia, not sure if you've checked these already but a few common FTP problems: Try using passive mode Check that it's transferring the files as binary not ASCII Check firewall settings "
Feb 19
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for February 16-18, 2012
"Hello IFers -- in February I usually spend more time on songwriting (for February Album Writing Month) than on improv, but I can't really resist improv, and lots of good songs begin that way. This week's contributions are all based on…"
Feb 17
Ken Ficara replied to J.C. Combs's discussion ImprovFriday Event for January 5-7, 2012
"There were a few lovely takes on "We Three Kings" for  the Christmas weekend event, which has resulted in its being stuck in my head for the last couple of weeks. (I've always been susceptible to the modal monotony of that song,…"
Jan 7
Ken Ficara replied to Paul H. Muller's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 22-25, 2011
" How is it on the iPhone? The screen shots I saw made me feel like my fingers would be too big to do anything."
Dec 24, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Paul H. Muller's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 22-25, 2011
"I did this piece to mark the solstice, which I've always assumed coincided with the perihelion, the point at which the Earth is closest to the Sun. But in fact, the perihelion will occur on January 5, and slowly moves around the calendar in…"
Dec 22, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to J.C. Combs's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 15-17, 2011
"Not sure if this is an improv or a song. It's an improv with lyrics, I suppose.   So Many Morning Coffees Harmonica, loops and effects Ken Ficara ken@harmonitronica.com So many morning coffees, I just sit and stare Worries…"
Dec 17, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 1-3, 2011
"That's MUCH better than Revolution #9. Loved that you started it off with "Deep," which as someone else said captures your attention immediately. Next time don't forget to include yourself! "
Dec 4, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 1-3, 2011
"Kawol, I love the guitar, very clean and precise against the dirtier harp. It's not something I ever would have come up with, nor can I play guitar like that, but it fits against the original melody perfectly -- responsive sometimes,…"
Dec 3, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 1-3, 2011
"Thanks for including my piece, Steve -- pretty amazing meld of the harmonica into the soprano around 2:40. "
Dec 3, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 1-3, 2011
"That's lovely, Shane. Each of the three parts has its own very distinct texture.  "
Dec 3, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 1-3, 2011
"Thanks, Shane. The main looper on this piece is an EHX 2880, a really nice four-track unit that's my go-to looper for layering. Fader control over loop level and feedback, lots of memory, nice design. I actually have it in a customized…"
Dec 2, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to Steve Layton's discussion ImprovFriday Event for December 1-3, 2011
"Long time no hear, everyone! I've missed this group, so I'm happy to be back with a pretty simple all-harmonica piece -- this is a very low F harmonica, a Moog ring modulator and a Kaoss Pad, and loops.  Ken Ficara Fried, A Night"
Dec 2, 2011
Ken Ficara replied to J.C. Combs's discussion Event Thread August 4-6, 2011
"Hello everyone -- I figured I'd make up for such a long absence with a surfeit of tracks. These are half-baked ideas for a video soundtrack. Just sat down and tried a bunch of things today with a series of toys including not only the usual…"
Aug 6, 2011

Profile Information

Main instrument/ musical interest
Harmonitronica -- live, improvised, looped harmonica.

Harmonitronica

"Harmonitronica" is a combination of harmonica and electronica, the place where two seemingly divergent interests of mine have finally started to keep company. I've played the harmonica for more than half my life, mostly in traditional American music (old-time, traditional blues, country and bluegrass). And for even longer than that, I've loved certain kinds of electronic and experimental music.

Harmonitronica fuses the organic and vocal nature of the harmonica with the layering and atmospherics of ambient music, the beats of electronica, and the unpredictability of found music, noise and chance. Harmonitronica is not computer music. It is not carefully constructed with software, but improvised live and recorded direct to two-track. Some of these pieces were edited for length, to remove boring or repetitive spots, or improvisations that didn't work, but everything you hear is exactly as it was performed.

Harmonitronica is harmonica like you have never heard it before.

www.harmonitronica.com

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At 5:48am on December 11, 2010, Richard Sanderson said…

Hi Ken!

 

yes there are certain similarities in our methods and interests. For live gigs I play the melodeon through various effects (a zoom zampler, a Kaoss pad, fuzz box and echo) - and I quite like mixing in a bit of feedback too - I don't use a laptop. For the IF stuff I'm mainly playing live into my PC using contraptions built with Audiomulch. It's an intriquing project because  it's practically impossible to get atonal or microtonal noise - so essential for improv - out of a bloody DG melodeon, but I enjoy the challenge - and I enjoy  the physicality of the instrument and all the escaping air sounds. Makes a change from playing "Speed The Plough" and "Brighton Camp" too!

 

Finding your stuff fascinating!

 

Best

 

Richard

At 1:43pm on November 14, 2010, J.C. Combs said…
Welcome to the site, Ken!
 
 
 

Blog Posts

2012 ImprovFriday Fund Raiser

Posted by Paul H. Muller on May 21, 2012 at 2:00pm

ImprovFriday-related releases

Posted by J.C. Combs on May 17, 2012 at 9:30pm

Richard Lainhart / Lucio Menegon recording

Posted by Jim Goodin on May 13, 2012 at 1:51am — 3 Comments

My other music . . .

Posted by Glenn Smith on May 12, 2012 at 4:08pm — 1 Comment

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