For heart-rate monitor, two Nintendo Wiimotes, & two dual-axis accelerometers (2011)

Running Expressions: Revisited is a real-time performance composition written in Kyma and Max/MSP. By capturing live physiological data, music is created and controlled within an 8-channel and video projection environment. The musical performance narrates a distance run, the psychological and emotional impacts of a running experience.

This revised version takes another look at my original Running Expressions, by rewriting the first half of the piece, editing other sections out, and ultimately reshaping the running journey of an intermedia experience.

Note: The video projection contains high brightness due to the location, although it captures a single continuous take. The first minute there is no audio due to the performer set-up, which is part of the work. Please wear headphones to take advantage of the full audio spectrum.

For heart-rate monitor, two Nintendo Wiimotes, & two dual-axis accelerometers (2011)

Running Expressions is a real-time performance composition written in Kyma and Max/MSP. By capturing live physiological data, music is created and controlled within an 8-channel and video projection environment. The musical performance narrates a distance run, the psychological and emotional impacts of a running experience. Please wear headphones to capture the full audio spectrum.

+ Download Documentation .pdf and the performance software (Max/MSP/Jitter, OSCulator, and Processing) files. (.zip, 11.5 MB)

+ Download Kyma performance audio files. (.zip, 45.3 MB)

+ Download Thesis documentation separately. (.pdf, 11.2 MB)

For four Nintendo Wiimotes & four pairs of Rec-Specs (2011)

Sound Pong is a real-time performance composition written in Kyma and Max/MSP for an electronic ensemble. The eight channel piece was co-written by Jon Bellona and Jeremy Schropp for OEDO (Oregon Electronic Device Orchestra). The video is a recording of Feb. 27th, 2011 premiere. Performers: Jeremy Schropp, Jon Bellona, Nathan Asman, and Simon Hutchinson

For flute, trumpet, and 3D video projection (2010)

with: James Bean, Emily McPherson, Mark Knippel, Mike Stephen, and Katherine Spinella

In Passing articulates the journey of an interactive dialogue between performers, where the germinal communicative motive becomes entangled as the conversation evolves. The clarity and complexity of the conversation between the performers takes form through video projection and live performance. The unfolding progression of this fluctuating relationship seeks to draw attention to interpersonal relationships.

For Python, Max/MSP/Jitter, Processing (2010)

Sonic Dog Tags is a set of compositions I composed using programs written in Python, Max/MSP/Jitter, and Processing. My programs retrieve biographical information of fallen service members from the Department of Defense RSS feed, map the information to musical parameters, and draw complementary visual sketches, collectively forming compositions unique to each service member.

Download source code examples.

The above video explains the compostional process. For videos/compositions of the individual service members, please click on the links below.

Tramaine J. Billingsley, Carlos A. Benitez, Rafael Martinez Jr.

Jessica Ellis

Jarod Newlove

For flute & live electronics (2010)

Unresolved Peace is a narrative of a sister losing her brother to war. Separated into three movements, the work reflects upon the process of being initiated into the Gold Star family. The work is dedicated to the Cleary, Henderson, and Winder families, to the wonderful Gold Star families with whom I've shared time, and to all whom keep open hearts. The poem "Peace" was written by Thich Nhat Hanh, 1968. This is the May 2, 2010 performance recording, with Allie Greenwood on flute.

+ Download the score.

for Wacom Tablet and KYMA (2010)

Humans fill uncomfortable moments between thoughts, not with spaces of silence, but instead with principally three noticeable sounds: "and", "uh", and "“um". “AUU” explores the spaces between our thoughts, as well as the use of the three common words that mask these silences.

All sounds were designed using KYMA, and mapped to the Wacom Tablet for performance. Originally performed and recorded for 8 channels, this mix was balanced for stereo. Please wear headphones to enhance the full audio spectrum.

+ Download the score.

Fixed media for 8-channels (2003)

The Sound Memorial for the Veterans of the Vietnam War is a six-hour long composition, a reading of the names of the service members who died during the Vietnam War. The Sound Memorial is a fixed media work performed as an eight-speaker installation and is composed from 210+ voices and over 200 hours of recording. The memorial resurrects the service member’s names by propagating them within a defined space, allowing the name to reverberate within a room and take on a whole new life. The following excerpt is "Height of the War," written to capture the magnitude of American service members killed in action over the course of several months in 1968.

+ Download the score.

+ Project Site

Fringe Festival Video Remix (music), 1st place - 2011

Collaboration with Doug Potts (film editing)

An attempt to capture the emotional drama portrayed in Yonggang Wu's striking silent film The Goddess. An amplification of anxiety, darkness, and gloom, independence, motherhood, and triumph. A contemporary perception of a harsh reality brought to film seventy-seven years ago. (description by Doug Potts).

short film (sound and music) - 2011

The film was created as part of the University of Oregon Adrenaline Film Project, during Cinema Pacific 2011. Filmmakers have 72 hours to pitch, script, cast, shoot, and edit a short film. All music and sound design was done within the 72 hour time limit.

web documentary (title music design) - 2007

Streak to Win is a documentary put together by Sean Tice and Adam Bedient. The film (shown as four web episodes) follows the Hamilton College Varsity Streaking Team as they battle their way to an undefeated season with neighboring NESCAC colleges and universities. The title sound design is featured on every episode and video outtake. The sound design bookends the outtake video above.

Popular Music

The music below highlights another Deece Records outlet, Pop Music. You'll find various bands and music projects, many of different genres, but all fitting within the realm of Popular Music.

Samira y Juan (Rock/Americana)

Rock song written, recorded, and mixed by Jon Bellona. Samira Potts spits vocals.

Pope Blackout (Noise Pop)

Pope Blackout is an indie-rock inspired outlet for electro-acoustic composer Jon Bellona. This three-song EP delves into emitting noise as art, and one can hear inspirations like My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth coming through the mix. When Jon is not modifying oscillators, the Pope is at the console.

Edgy Citizens (Indie)

Cary James, Evan James, and Jon Bellona came together through various avenues. As Cary and Jon had a previous project known as The Landscapers, The Edgy Citizens burgeoned on their conversations of live records and wavy, pastiche pop. Their debut, "If I Had A Hi-Fi", premiered in January, 2003, and was cut live with two additional session players - Lindsay Papsmear on bass, and Ben Salzman on drums - around one Neumann SM69. Our heroes sounded the various guitar noises and spit vocals. To date, the group is on hiatus working on solo projects.

Jon Bellona (fixed media)

Soundscape completed during Jon's undergraduate years.