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We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? (#ProveYourHumanity Infinitely Improbable Edition)

by Chris Opperman & Kurt Morgan

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In 1651 00:58
In 1651, Thomas Hobbes asked, Why may, we, not say, that all, Auto ma ta…have an artificial…life? For what is the heart, but a spring? What are the nerves, but so many strings? What are the joints, but so many wheels, giving motion to the whole body, such as was intended by the Artificer? For, by, art, is created, that great, Leviathan.
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about

The first six tracks of this project is the standard edition EP of this project. It includes incredible solos by Mike Keneally, Andre LaFosse, and Scheila Gonzalez, as well as two new compositions: "Planned Obsolescence" by Kurt Morgan created using all the samples we got of Brianna Tagliaferro's cello noise solo at the opening of "The Fermi Paradox" on the last project, and "Derinkuyu, the Underground City" for two vibraphones by Chris Opperman commissioned by Composer's Concordance for the Vibraphone Centennial concerts! The robots from the last project return and in the timeline of the last story, this takes place sometime between 2XXX and 3XXX, so the middle of the story. Now, about the remaining tracks:

#ProveYourHumanity!

PEOPLE OF EARTH! We have given you everything you need to create your own version(s) of "Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?"

You can SUBMIT YOUR OWN VERSION to us, and we'll upload it and add it to the album provided that you understand that you have no copyright ownership in the version you submit, that you cannot use our recordings to do anything else besides make versions of this piece (we will take a dim view of any unauthorized sampling), that we're not going to pay any royalties on an album that is ostensibly free*, and that you promise that you will not sample anyone else's copyrighted material in your own version(s).

We're not looking to be gatekeepers here, but we do reserve the right to not use your version for any reason, like if you showed up to someone's 25th birthday party and hooked up with the person they like.

(*We spent a lot of time, money, and energy creating this so we would very much appreciate you paying us! We're making the album free so that students can access the materials not so adults with actual jobs can get a free lunch!)

WAYS TO PLAY:

1. BUILD YOUR VERSION ON THE OSTINATO: Technically, the ostinato itself is the song and you can put anything you want on top of it. We've included a MIDI version of the ostinato so you can make it sound however you want!

All versions *should* have the complete ostinato mixed in so that it can be heard. We say should because it would seem pretty weird to tell you to prove your humanity and not be a robot and then insist you follow our arbitrary rules. If you want to prove your humanity by recording yourself in the shower singing about how you wish you were a cat, so be it!

2. PLAY/SING YOUR OWN SOLOS ON TOP OF THE TRACKS: In the spirit of Jamey Aebersold, you can practice improvising over our provided tracks, work up a good one, record it, and send it to us! We will love it!

3. XENOCHRONY: Since Kurt and Ryan cut their tracks to the pre-recorded ostinato, all the tracks are approximately the same length and you can mix and match and combine everything to your heart's content! You can even smash everything together and call it a day. We're here to inspire you to make art, not tell you how to do it.

4. Anything we haven't thought of that isn't covered in this list is fair game. Surprise us!

(Again, please don't use our tracks to create samples for outside projects and please don't sample other people's outside projects in your version. Pretty much everything else is fair game).

credits

released June 3, 2022

Produced by Kurt Morgan
Cover art by Mark Buckingham

Chris Opperman - keyboards
Mike Keneally - electric guitar
Andre LaFosse - turntablist guitar
Scheila Gonzalez - tenor saxophone
Brianna Tagliaferro - cello
Kurt Morgan - electric bass
Ryan Brown - drum set

Orchestration on "Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? v. 7.67" by Kurt Morgan.

"Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? (all versions)" and "Derinkuyu, the Underground City" composed by Chris Opperman and published by Phantom Moo Music ASCAP. All rights reserved.

"Planned Obsolescence" composed by Kurt Morgan and published by Sacred Cheeseburger Music ASCAP. All rights reserved.

"in 1651" composed by Chris Opperman and Kurt Morgan and published jointly by Phantom Moo Music ASCAP and Sacred Cheeseburger Music ASCAP. All rights reserved.

Our UPC code ends in 42. It was clearly meant to be.

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about

Chris Opperman Clifton, New Jersey

Chris wields a special array of expertise. He's a composer of wildly original music, a top orchestrator/arranger, a visionary educator, and a trusted music industry advisor.

With Arnie & Eric Roth of AWR Music, Chris has worked on several international tours including Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY.

His arrangements have been performed at premiere venues including Carnegie Hall.
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