The Dedham School of Music kicks off its CrossRoads program Saturday with a workshop on computer music from David Morneau, a composer who has been staking out new ground with his newfangled instrument.
"Because they can sample any sound in existence and synthesize many yet to be imagined sounds, computers are allowing composers to experiment with a wide range of sounds and ideas," Morneau said. "This results in expanding the scope of what music can be, unleashing the hidden musicality in ordinary and extraordinary sounds."
Morneau, 33, a doctoral of musical arts candidate at the Ohio State University, was featured last year on National Ppublic Radio's "All Things Considered" as he wrapped up "60x365," a yearlong project in which he created and posted online a 60-second musical piece every day. His pieces covered a wide range of categories, from loops, mashups and improvisations to breakbeat and something called "acousmatic."
He said he will play selections from that project to demonstrate ideas during the workshop, which he calls "a nice overview of computer music and how composers use computers to create music."
"Oftentimes, this kind of music is a little scary and a little difficult to get into if you have no way in, so I try to provide a little doorway in," Morneau said.
The workshop, which costs $10, will be held Saturday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dedham Community House. To register, call 781-329-5740.
Morneau's uncle, Ed Morneau of Norwood, is the self-described "main agitator" of CrossRoads. The program is intended to reach into the community and offer people "something that a typical music school wouldn't offer," he said.
Five more such grassroots musical workshops are scheduled for March, April, and May, including a songwriting primer and concert March 28 from songsmith Jud Caswell of Maine. (A brochure is posted at www.dedhamcommunityhouse.org.)
Ed Morneau said CrossRoads is the "second leg" of programming for the Dedham School of Music, following the first part, formal music lessons, which started in the fall. The school's spring music lessons began yesterday.
The school, which is housed at the Community House, was opened by Music Access Group Inc., a nonprofit group established last year.
The school's third leg will be creating performance opportunities for local residents and ensembles to perform and jam, especially for people who don't have a place to play, Morneau said.
"Hopefully, within five years we've created a presence in the community where people know that the Dedham school of music is a place where music thrives in so many ways," he said.
Daily News staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at 781-433-8336 or ecolby@cnc.com.
