Alex H Smith
Composition Portfolio
Text intro to portfolio
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Extended works
Other Compositions
Extended performances
(out)growing pains - Sefora Sam
Poetry and music (35min performance)
Bringing together poetry by the Antwerpse poet Sefora with my own bespoke compositions, (out)growing pains aims to create a symbiosis of spoken word and music. Instead of one accompanying the other, they shift roles and fluidly interact around the cyclical theme of healing from past pain.
This is currently a work in progress that will be officially premiering in early 2025.
The recorded footage comes from a proof-of-concept try-out hosted by Mestizo Arts Platform in Antwerp during the November 2023 WIPCOOP presentation moment, and was performed by a limited cast of:
Sefora : spoken word, concept and writer
Abigaille Vungu : backing vocals
Myself : percussion, electronics, composition, musical direction
For the official premier, this will be scaled up to include a larger musical ensemble (and less electronic elements)
Official event teaser trailer, using excerpts of my music
EK Slam Poetry - DeSingel
Concert performance & incidental music (3 hour underscored event)
For the European Championships of Slam Poetry, held at DeSingel (Anwterpen) in January 2024, I composed and directed the incidental music, as well as a 'half-time' show in collaboration with Sefora Sam.
This was a 3-hour event, experienced both live in the concert hall and streamed online internationally.
To reference the theme of the season at DeSingel 'Downtown New York' I wrote for a New York Jazz inspired ensemble, performed by:
Thibaut Deryckere: Piano
Robbe Broeckx : Drum kit
Toon Rumen : Bass
Myself : Vibraphone
The 'half-time' show consisted of a bespoke 30-minute concert by Sefora and I, focussing on feel good words and music. We aimed to provide some enjoyable yet substantial entertainment for an audience who had already experienced several hours of competitive poetry.
Meer dan kna(ap) - Elyne Notebaert
Background music for monologue theatre performance (40 min)
Meer dan kna(ap) is a performance created by actress Elyne Notebaert and director Aïcha Cissé about life with AP (achondroplasie), or life as a little person.
The performance is an intimate look into Elyne's inner self, touching on weighted topics of self-image, bullying and loneliness yet told through her light-heartedness and unique sense of humour.
The music I was commissioned to compose for the show is eclectic and predominantly electronic. Here I got to stretch my pastiche composition skills, creating tracks for a Catwalk scene, a Fitness scene, and an energetic, (overly)optimistic pop song.
A very enjoyabe commision!
Other works
"Detoxing" (here shown in its multi-track demo form), is a piece for vibraphone and rhythm section. Originating from a solo improvisation around a structurally pivotal chord from the show (out)growing pains, this idea quickly developed into a piece of its own.
It was performed in its original form during the EK Slam Poetry event (Jan 2024), and has since been adapted for solo performances (live-looping) and expanded for performances by the Maisha In Concert collective.
This song was a collaboration between myself and singer/actor Junior Akwety, originally written as part of the Congo Echoes project by Jeroen Malaise.
Lyrics and melody by Junior, and marimba trio composition by myself.
Performed by (left to right) Jorge Rodriguez, Javier Poveda and myself.
Soundcloud link to unspoken drafts
description of unspoken
"Nightfall" was originally written to be played during an instrumental intermission set during the European Slam Championships event.
Video taken from the live stream of the event, and featuring musicians:
Thibaut Deryckere: Piano
Robbe Broeckx : Drum kit
Toon Rumen : Bass
Myself : Vibraphone
The Music Box Suite?
The Music Box Suite?