Dave Hartl: Music
Screaming Infant
(Dave Hartl)
Dave Hartl: piano, Chapman Stick, MIDI guitar, synths:
Arturia Moog Modular V (lead)
Camel Audio Cameleon CA5000 (string line)
Korg Legacy Cell (lead)
Waldorf Microwave Xt (guitar synth)
Ken Pendergast: acoustic bass
Joe Nero: drums
I got on the train at Penn Station, NYC, to go back to Philly late one afternoon. About 5 rows up a woman sat down on the crowded train and found she had to store her carrier and hold the baby she had with her. The infant proceeded to scream without letup for almost 2 hours, often appearing to suspend the need for breath, a miraculous performance. But I was intent in writing down a 5/4 call-and-answer “Softly” variation that was playing in my head despite the cacophony. When I got off in Philly, the baby was still screaming, the woman appeared to be looking for a dumpster, and the other passengers were glaring, but I came away with a tune I liked and a title to commemorate the circumstances.