The curious music of Dixie State’s Robert Matheson …matheson/robertmatheson/Presenter_Info_files... · ST.GEORGE Ð Fueled by his love for music and a chain of inspiring people

1/7/14, 11:41 PMThe curious music of Dixie State's Robert Matheson and his MIDI bass | St George NewsSt George News | STGnews.com

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The curious music of Dixie State’s Robert Matheson and his MIDIbassWritten by Chris Caldwell on January 2, 2013 in Arts & Entertainment, Education, Life, Local News, News - No comments

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Robert Matheson playing his midi-bass, St. George, Utah, Dec. 16, 2012 | Photo by Chris Cadlwell, St. George News

ST.GEORGE – Fueled by his love for music and a chain of inspiring people dotted throughout his life, Robert Matheson is a local virtuoso,an inspiring musician, and a revolutionary personality in the world of music. He has been teaching at Dixie State College of Utah for threesemesters.

Matheson’s instrument of choice is the MIDI bass, which he has mastered to produce music and sounds that are, to play on the title of one ofhis works, “Curiouser and Curiouser” – a work inspired by the classic, Alice in Wonderland.

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Matheson grew up in California, and had his first taste of rock when his brother took it upon himself to be one of the first influences in hismusic career. That got him started in the world of rock music with groups like Led Zeppelin and The Doors.

“I really started getting interested in playing music during my freshman year in high school when my brother started playing guitar,”Matheson said.“ And he had a friend who played drums, and another friend who played guitar; and I wanted to hang out with my older

MoreST.GEORGE – Fueled by his love for music and a chain of inspiring people dotted throughout his life, Robert Matheson is a local virtuoso,an inspiring musician, and a revolutionary personality in the world of music. He has been teaching at Dixie State College of Utah for threesemesters.




TweetTweet 4 249 79 people like this. Be the first of your friends.LikeLike

Robert Matheson playing his midi-bass, St. George, Utah, Dec. 16, 2012 | Photo by Chris Cadlwell, St. George News

ST.GEORGE – Fueled by his love for music and a chain of inspiring people dotted throughout his life, Robert Matheson is a local virtuoso,an inspiring musician, and a revolutionary personality in the world of music. He has been teaching at Dixie State College of Utah for threesemesters.


(story continues below)



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brother so I started out with the bass.”

Robert Matheson playing hisMIDI-bass, St. George, Utah,Dec. 16, 2012 | Photo by ChrisCadlwell, St. George News

As he transitioned into high school, Matheson studied more jazz music, and bass artists like Charles Mingus and Ray Brown; and as a senior,he transitioned to the upright bass. At that time, many schools across the nation were losing their music programs, but despite this additionalchallenge, opportunity seemed to fall into the right place at the right time, and Matheson found the passion to continue playing.

“I realized this is something I could do for a long time, and the instrument I could do it on was the bass,” Matheson said. “I’d practice for upto eight hours a day, and be in the practice rooms until I got kicked out by the janitors.”

He then attended University of California, Santa Cruz for three years, and learned from Barry Green, further adding to his technique anddrive. After a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Matheson came back to playing the bass and pursuing amusic degree. Matheson then attended California State University, Long Beach, learning from Dave Young, and earning his degree in bassperformance.

Matheson and his wife then moved to Tucson where he studied the University of Arizona, as a vehicle to further expanding his talent andstyle. In the world of music, instructors have a very profound effect on the styles students develop, so the decision involved studying theinstructors of many different universities to carefully select one who would not only be someone with substantial material to teach, but alsoone who had a style Matheson liked.

Matheson spent five years studying bass performance at the University of Arizona, and earned his doctorate in musical arts, specifically inbass performance, with a minor in electroacoustic music.

From there, Matheson helped develop the electronic music program at the University of Arizona, working with both electrical engineeringstudents and set-design theatre students to create original instruments for performances.

Matheson recently completed his third semester teaching at Dixie State College, and continues his study and performance with electronicacoustic instruments.























Matheson has foundthe perfect balancebetween his passionfor music, his family,and teachingstudents who willone day aspire inmusic as well

His weapon of choice is what’s called a MIDI Bass. It is a custom built instrument that combines the sound and mechanics of a string bass,with the latitude of a MIDI controller to process the sound. Furthermore, many of the sound samples are recorded by Matheson himself.Examples of his work include In Just inspired by E. E. Cummings and Curiouser And Curiouser inspired by Alice In Wonderland, includedabove. Matheson’s work has been described as taking on a texture and a feeling of nostalgia, as compared to traditional classical musicwhich follows a more rigid structure. The sound is a unique experience to listeners, and a substantial deviation from what most people areused to hearing. This unique sound is what drives a lot of electronic music; finding and creating new sounds.

“It doesn’t have to sound like a violin, or a string bass, or a traditional instrument to be a sound you can enjoy,” Matheson said. “That’ssomething that has attracted me and kept me interested in electronic music.”

The delivery of the music is unique as well. Traditionally, MIDI music is delivered in a set medium, and classical music follows set notes;but on his MIDI bass, Matheson is able to play custom tailored music that can adjust to the audience, the venue, and even to moods.

“It is definitely growing,” Matheson said. “There are a lot more universities that have electronic music programs now. There are a lot ofreally great performers who are constantly breaking down these barriers between rock music and world music, and these types of music aremixing together now.”

Matheson has found the perfect balance between his passion for music, his family, and teaching studentswho will one day aspire in music as well.

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Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2012, all rights reserved.

The Ironwood Duo plays at 3p.m., Sunday, June 27, at St.Andrew's Episcopal Church,at 545 S. Fifth Ave. Ticketsare $10 for adults, and $5for students and children.For more information, callMichael Lich at 404-4520, orvisit www.ironwoodduo.com.

Musical Chemistry by Adam Lehrer

Musical styles and genres coalesce when Tucson musicians Michael Lich and RobertMatheson perform together as the Ironwood Duo.

The two have been playing together for five years and have become known for packing aplethora of musical styles into single compositions.

"When I was a kid, I was listening to and playing classic rock 'n' roll music," said Matheson,who plays double bass for the duo. "It wasn't until I became a teenager and heard CharlesMingus for the first time that I really started to delve into jazz and other more classictypes of music."

Lich also was initiated into the world of music via rock, but his tastes grew ever morediverse when he was introduced to the music of classical guitarist Christopher Parkening,and classical jazz and banjo great Béla Fleck. He realized that styles as different as, say,jazz and bluegrass didn't necessarily need to be mutually exclusive.

The duo's performances incorporate everything from Bach's harpsichord preludes, totracks from Jimi Hendrix's inimitable "Purple Haze," to original compositions that infusejazz, bluegrass and world music.

When asked how the group is able to keep the music fluid, and not cluttered and chaotic, Lich responded, "We'vebeen playing together for a long time, and we both know how to play off of each other."

Lich plays classical guitar and banjo, and he also composes and arranges music. He said he does not limit hismusical palette and has delved into styles as diverse as classical, jazz, bluegrass and East Indian.

A writer from the Sierra Vista Herald once referred to Lich as a "musician's musician." When asked what he thoughtthis meant, Lich said, "I do a lot musically, with the original compositions, playing eclectic styles and whatnot."

Music has taken Lich all over the world, from Brazil to South Korea, and Lich has received favorable press in thesevarious countries. When not playing his own compositions or touring with the Ironwood Duo, Lich teaches guitar atthe Academy of Music and Dance and at Pima Community College.

Matheson is a double bassist and composer, and his music utilizes sounds from classical, jazz, folk and rock tocreate a powerful and thick sound that resonates with the listener.

Matheson honed his playing in numerous performing groups prior to hooking up with Lich and forming theIronwood Duo. His former groups include Toccata, the Blue Pacific Swing Band, the Tucson Symphony Orchestraand the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated with visual artists, dancers and other musicianson improvisation projects that seek to bridge the musical and the visual.

When not performing, he is a teaching artist with the Opening Minds Through the Arts program, and occasionallyteaches at Pima Community College.

The two said they knew they had musical chemistry when introduced by a mutual friend in 2005.

"Here was this guy who, like me, was into all these different types of music," said Lich. "Our playing styles just sortof coalesced together."

click to enlarge

Ironwood Duo

1/8/14, 12:16 AMMusical Chemistry | Pick of the Week | Tucson Weekly

Page 2 of 2http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/musical-chemistry/Content?oid=2045735&mode=print

Added Matheson, "The Ironwood Duo is just a different way of being creative. It gives me a chance to play withsomeone who has a similar vision as me, which allows me to arrange music that we love and really want to play."

The Ironwood Duo promises an exciting set list for the June 27 show.

"The audience can expect some great music," said Lich. "We'll be playing some traditional Spanish music, such asflamenco. We'll be doing some repertoire stuff from the baroque era that we've transcribed for the banjo. We'll beplaying bluegrass, and we'll even be doing some ... Les Claypool-esque stuff. It should be a fantastic show."

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2/5/14, 11:54 PMFaculty members create music with iPads, Wii remotes - Dixie Sun News

Page 1 of 2http://www.dixiesunnews.com/articles/2014/02/01/new-music-concert/

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February 1st, 2014

Gary Caldwell, an associate professor of music,plays a trumpet equipped with a Wii remote andthe assistance of iPads to create a unique concert

experience. Photo by Rebecca Luker.

Faculty Members Create Music With IPads,Wii Remotes

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by Keshara Bjorkman

The use of technology is not unusual when paired withmusic, but when iPads and Nintendo Wii remotes enter themix, things change.

Dixie State University’s music department held the firstfaculty New Music Concert at the Eccles Concert Hall Fridaynight. The program included six pieces. Some werecomposed as far back as the mid-‘70s, while others werethe recent works of Robert Matheson, an adjunct professorof music. His work included the more unique use of the Wiiremote and iPad with the app called Touch OSC.

“It was great to hear what different people can do withtechnology,” said Laura Alley, a junior music major fromBountiful. “I love that they’re trying to get this out in thecommunity more.”

Matheson's “Prelude for iPad Ensemble” opened the show.Random audience members recorded their voices on a microphone as they arrived.

Matheson put the sounds into a computer, and they were then transferred to iPads held by faculty members GlennWebb, music department chair; Timothy Francis, an assistant professor of music; and Gary Caldwell, an associateprofessor of music, as they walked around the music hall.

Using the iPads, they took the sounds, added effects, and changed the speed and pitch at random. Which ever waythe face of the iPad tilted determined where in the room the sound came from.

Matheson created something different and technologically-focused, but by having performers control the sound, hemaintained the live music aspect.

“Really, what I liked about it was the spontaneity,” Caldwell said. “You could just push these buttons and makesounds — it was fun … and it’s not a melodic tune in the traditional sense, but I always try to tell students thatmusic is a combination of sound and silence, and we had that.”

Students who attended the concert shared mutual feelings with Caldwell.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Jeff Chapman, a freshman music major from Ivins. “It’s kind of different from what mostpeople think of as music.”

Webb performed a solo percussion piece titled “Dividing Time,” composed by Steven Ricks of Brigham YoungUniversity, who was present for the concert.

“I first did it in 2002, then put it away,” Webb said. “We started talking about this concert, and Dr. Ricks happenedto email me out of the blue and said, ‘Remember this piece? Would you like to do it again?’ That was aroundThanksgiving. November, December, January, I was hitting it just about every day for an hour at least.”

The complicated piece kept the crowd captivated and many feet tapping throughout its duration.

“The percussion was so cool,” Alley said. “I don’t know how people can move their hands that quickly.”

Caldwell not only rehearsed a piece on trumpet put together by Matheson, but also handled the Wii remote thatwas strapped to the instrument with rubber bands.

“The risky thing about this is hoping all the technology works,” Caldwell said on stage. “We’ve rehearsed it about10 times, and I don’t think we’ve gotten it right once.”

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Gary Caldwell, an associate professor of music,plays a trumpet equipped with a Wii remote andthe assistance of iPads to create a unique concert

experience. Photo by Rebecca Luker.

by Keshara Bjorkman

The use of technology is not unusual when paired withmusic, but when iPads and Nintendo Wii remotes enter themix, things change.

Dixie State University’s music department held the firstfaculty New Music Concert at the Eccles Concert Hall Fridaynight. The program included six pieces. Some werecomposed as far back as the mid-‘70s, while others werethe recent works of Robert Matheson, an adjunct professorof music. His work included the more unique use of the Wiiremote and iPad with the app called Touch OSC.

“It was great to hear what different people can do withtechnology,” said Laura Alley, a junior music major fromBountiful. “I love that they’re trying to get this out in thecommunity more.”

Matheson's “Prelude for iPad Ensemble” opened the show.Random audience members recorded their voices on a microphone as they arrived.

Matheson put the sounds into a computer, and they were then transferred to iPads held by faculty members GlennWebb, music department chair; Timothy Francis, an assistant professor of music; and Gary Caldwell, an associateprofessor of music, as they walked around the music hall.

Using the iPads, they took the sounds, added effects, and changed the speed and pitch at random. Which ever waythe face of the iPad tilted determined where in the room the sound came from.

Matheson created something different and technologically-focused, but by having performers control the sound, hemaintained the live music aspect.

“Really, what I liked about it was the spontaneity,” Caldwell said. “You could just push these buttons and makesounds — it was fun … and it’s not a melodic tune in the traditional sense, but I always try to tell students thatmusic is a combination of sound and silence, and we had that.”

Students who attended the concert shared mutual feelings with Caldwell.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Jeff Chapman, a freshman music major from Ivins. “It’s kind of different from what mostpeople think of as music.”

Webb performed a solo percussion piece titled “Dividing Time,” composed by Steven Ricks of Brigham YoungUniversity, who was present for the concert.

“I first did it in 2002, then put it away,” Webb said. “We started talking about this concert, and Dr. Ricks happenedto email me out of the blue and said, ‘Remember this piece? Would you like to do it again?’ That was aroundThanksgiving. November, December, January, I was hitting it just about every day for an hour at least.”

The complicated piece kept the crowd captivated and many feet tapping throughout its duration.

“The percussion was so cool,” Alley said. “I don’t know how people can move their hands that quickly.”

Caldwell not only rehearsed a piece on trumpet put together by Matheson, but also handled the Wii remote thatwas strapped to the instrument with rubber bands.

The same principles of direction and movement were applied to the Wii remote as in the prelude.

“You’re not hearing the acoustic sound of the trumpet; you’re hearing the mic sound that goes through thecomputer and into the surround sound,” Matheson said. “There’s live looping, (and) there’s live panning andmixing. It’s a fun piece.”

During Caldwell’s trumpet performance, he tilted the instrument forward and moved it around with a swingingmotion, creating a literal surround sound that moved from one part of the room to another and enveloped theaudience in a deep, reverberating loop from the push of a button.

Technology is a mystery sometimes, but in an effort to evolve music to another level, it worked in Matheson’sfavor.

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The curious music of Dixie State’s Robert Matheson …matheson/robertmatheson/Presenter_Info_files... · ST.GEORGE Ð Fueled by his love for music and a chain of inspiring people