The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an extensive profile of PhD candidate Nathan Frink and his transcription and performance of music by Ornette Coleman. The performance of Coleman's music (happening tonight) is an outgrowth of Frink's 2012 MA thesis. Frink described the process of his research for PG writer Manny Theiner.

"I did a master's thesis in 2012 about Ornette's music in the 1970s, looking at new ways to analyze free music. Instead of transcription, I used spectral analysis, looking at waveforms and diagrams that show overtones. You can talk about 'regions of intensity' in free-improvised music and start to find form where sometimes you think there isn't any."

Frink's presentation of music by Ornette Coleman is a great example of how Department of Music graduate students are connecting cutting edge research to concrete practice. Read the entire PG article here, and don't miss out on Frink's concert at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium on Friday night at 8 p.m.