This blog chronicles the creation of Thirteen Near-Death Experiences, a new musical work by composer/performer Corey Dargel, commissioned by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). Please get involved by reading, listening, and leaving comments.
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ICE and I just wrapped up a recording session of Thirteen Near-Death Experiences at the lovely Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Here’s a photo of us after we finished the session. Unfortunately, our drummer, David T. Little, left before the photo shoot.  L-R: David Bowlin (violin), Kivie Cahn-Lipman (cello), Ryan Streber (recording engineer), Corey Dargel (composer/singer), Eric Lamb (flutes), Jacob Greenberg (piano), Joshua Rubin (clarinets)
Photos by L. Gabrielle Penabaz
Click here for the full-screen slideshow on Flickr.Performers: Corey Dargel and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) Composer/Lyricist: Corey Dargel Choreographer: Yvan Greenberg Stage Director: Emma Griffin Assistant Stage Director: Jordan Fein Lighting Designer: Mike Inwood Musicians: Corey Dargel, vocals; Eric Lamb, flutes; Joshua Rubin, clarinets; David T. Little, drums; Jacob Greenberg, piano; David Bowlin, violin; Kivie Cahn-Lipman, cello. Many many thanks to all those who came to the premiere performances. ICE and I were very pleased to have such responsive (and full) houses for both shows! Please stay tuned — RSS feed — for videos from the show and for news about a studio recording. Presently I am on the verge of post-show depression which I will attempt to stave off by watching this video of my friend, Scott Heron from New Orleans, performing “A Few of My Favorite Things:”
Tonight and tomorrow are the premiere performances! Here is some preview press we’ve received. from this week’s issue of Time Out New York
from this week’s issue of the New Yorker magazine: INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE: “NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES AND OTHER LIVE ACTS” Some artists communicate their intentions in neon lights, lest we miss them. “Thirteen Near-Death Experiences,” a new piece of music theatre by Corey Dargel, seems to be a departure from his wellestablished (and cunningly made) mock-trivial art-pop style. It will be the major offering in a concert by the stunningly expert new-music band that also features three other world-première scores, by the young composer-performers Stephen Lehman, Nathan Davis, and Mario Diaz de León. (P.S. 122, First Ave. at 9th St. 212-352-3101. May 22-23 at 8.) from today’s NY Times: ICE (Friday) The centerpiece of this program by the energetic ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble) is “Thirteen Near-Death Experiences” — a work about delusions and hypochondria — by the inventive young composer Corey Dargel. Music by Nathan Davis, Mario Diaz de León and Stephen Lehman fill out the program. At 8 p.m., Performance Space 122, 150 First Avenue, at Ninth Street, East Village, (212) 477-5829, ps122.org; $20; $15 for students and 65+. (Allan Kozinn)
So what does the end of that progression look like? What would be the final thoughts expressed in this piece? Almost all of the songs in Thirteen… have a mood of extreme loneliness, so I thought the final song should present a possible remedy. I remembered the first time I was sick away from home — my first time being sick and having no one around to help take care of me. I had to make my own soup. I had to go to the grocery store nauseous to buy soda and saltines. That’s part of the inspiration for this song — the finale of Thirteen Near-Death Experiences. When the singer finally succumbs to his unavoidable terminal illness, when he’s admitted to the hospital in serious condition, his loneliness will at last be assuaged… because someone will be required to take care of him. The instruments in this song are: flute, clarinet, drum set, piano, violin, and cello. I have some concerns that the lyrics may be over the top (although I also have a strong desire to change the line “Someone who never scowls” to “Someone who never scowls when my bowel growls” or “Someone who never scowls at my fowl bowel”). I also want to know if/how I should musically fill in the gap between the second chorus and the third verse. What do you think? Someone Will Take Care of Me Audio has been removed. Download Score (PDF) I’ll be a shut-in someday soon Someone will take care of me Someone who’ll wrap me in warm towels Someone will take care of me [What to put here? Instrumental solo, more lyrics, a dance?] Someone who’ll hold my dead hand Someone will take care of me
“Interlude” is a place right in the middle of the piece where I get to take a break and do something besides sing. I might have a glass of milk and/or do a private dance to blow off steam! The instruments in “Prelude” are: piccolo, clarinet, castanet, piano, violin, and cello. Prelude Audio has been removed. Download Score (PDF) The instruments in “Interlude” are: flute, bass clarinet, drum set, piano, violin, and cello. Interlude Audio has been removed. Download Score (PDF)
The instruments in this song are flute, bass clarinet, drum set, piano, violin, and cello. Musically, I’ve been a little more conservative with this song, incorporating a lot of doubling (many of the instruments playing the same material at the same time) and less rhythmic independence. But the singer’s part is perhaps more iconoclastic than any of the other songs, pushing against the instruments most of the time. I hope it works… Touch Me Where It Counts Audio has been removed. Download Score (PDF) Our chronically platonic Why don’t you touch me where it counts It’s no fictional condition Why don’t you touch me where it counts How impressively aggressive Why don’t you touch me where it counts
The instruments are alto flute, clarinet, egg shaker, piano, violin, and cello. Impotent Teeth Audio has been removed. Download Score (PDF) Evidently based on See how my deplorable breath All kinds of mouthwash To you I bequeath
The instruments in this song are: clarinet, percussion (tambourine, snare drum, triangle), piano, violin, and cello. Everybody Says I’m Beautiful Audio has been removed. Download Score (PDF) My hair is no longer blond My mommy says I’m beautiful What a sight I am to behold My mommy says I’m beautiful My boyfriend says |
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In a meeting with 
Here are two instrumental numbers in which the musicians of ICE get to show off their incredible skills. “Prelude” opens the piece in a subdued and (I think) slightly strange way, which of course I like. No grand overture, no grab-the-audience fanfare. Just a quiet, cautious, repetitive exercise. The intense focus of the performers is the driving force behind “Prelude.”
Continuing with the doctor-patient relationship theme, here’s a song in which the patient becomes more aggressive. I think it’s a nice change of tone from the other songs, which tend to be more cautiously pathetic. This song lays it all out on the examining table — an ultimatum perhaps.
Here’s a very short, very straight-forward song based on the oral hygiene issues I refered to in 
I’ve decided to procrastinate doing my taxes and instead make a new blog post with a new song, “Everybody Says I’m Beautiful.” Okay, so this song is arguably not related to the theme of hypochondria, but I have a strong inclination to include it in this piece. Why is that? Maybe it’s the final song of the piece — the grand finale (finalé?) — and I have to figure out how to get from the more obvious examples of hypochondria to this more-general body-image theme — looking in the mirror, seeing my body fall apart. Hmmm…. There must be a connection. What do you think?
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