Elizabeth A. Baker
Elizabeth A. Baker on falling in love from the point of view of a neurotransmitter, making music from bicycle parts, and the legacy of Nina Simone.
Photo by Charlotte Suarez
Celebrated for her “terrifying dynamic range,” cleanliness of sound, as well as unique sensitivity and ability to sculpt her performance for the acoustics of a space, Elizabeth A. Baker is a dramatic performer with an honest, near psychic connection to music, which resounds with audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds. As a creator, her understanding of sonic space from organic intuition and studies in music production, paired with a unique eclectic voice, makes for a spatial and auditory experience of music. Eschewing the collection of traditional titles that describe single elements of her body of work, Elizabeth refers to herself as a “New Renaissance Artist” that embraces a constant stream of change and rebirth in practice, which expands into a variety of media, chiefly an exploration of how sonic and spatial worlds can be manipulated to personify a variety of philosophies and principles both tangible as well as intangible.
Elizabeth has received considerable recognition from press as well as scholars, for her innovative conceptual compositions and commitment to inclusive programming. In addition to studies of her work, Elizabeth has been awarded several fellowships, grants, and residencies to further her artistic endeavours. An active advocate for the arts, she founded The New Music Conflagration, Inc., a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to furthering the work of contemporary musicians and composers; in addition in 2016 she established the Florida International Toy Piano Festival to create a platform for serious toy piano concert works. Elizabeth is also one half of the new renaissance Baker-Barganier Duo. She is the author of the world’s first comprehensive toy piano method book as well as a mixed media book about the experiences of being a young artist in the modern world. Elizabeth is an official Schoenhut Toy Piano Artist, and endorsed by Source Audio LLC due to her extensive work with interactive electronics that mold movement works into sonic compositions.
LISTEN/WATCH
I'm still having waterbug problems... begins at 00:29 and is excerpted again at the close of the episode at 27:22. By the Baker-Barganier Duo, featuring Elizabeth A. Baker and Erich Barganier.
Serotonin begins at 8:09. Featuring Dawn Pufahl on viola and Elizabeth A. Baker on toy piano.
Tweed Fantasy - Perpetual Dream begins at 17:48.
On The Other Side begins at 22:51. Featuring Dawn Pufahl on viola and Elizabeth A. Baker on toy piano.
I'm still having waterbug problems... is excerpted for a second time at 27:22. See above for track and details.
Purchase
Below is a small selection of music and writing. Visit Elizabeth's online shop for more albums and books.
"An album of works for prepared piano, piano with live electronics, as well as a piece for voice manipulated by electronics."
"This book is not a collection of poetry. This book is not a collection of essays. This book is selection of musings, or writings to consider, to ruminate upon and perhaps even, to draw questions and conclusions about your own life and psyche. The writings in this book represent the struggle of an artist trying to make sense of the world before them. A world in which, they are less of an active participant and more of an observer. While the works penned in this collection were written by a growing artist in their formative years, there are some universal truths in these pages. It is the hope of the author that all souls who read these pages find comfort within the knowledge that they are not alone in their feelings, and that this might serve as a bright light for those grappling with the balance between the various facets of their being on this plane."
"Toyager: A Toy Piano Method, is the first comprehensive book designed exclusively for toy piano instruction. Beyond the principles of technique and history of toy piano, the book features an introduction to music notation, tactics for effective practicing, as well as strategies for improvisation. Written music theory exercises are paired with solo repertoire and interactive content to enhance the student's experience of the toy piano."