Digital Portfolio by Clarissa Tracy
My digital portfolio starts with the most recent of projects and works backwards because I want people to know that progress is important and I feel that I learn something new on every film and assignment. I hope to keep moving forward in creating new content that displays my interdisciplinary skills in flute performing, composition, and film.
Wake Up (2022)
"Wake Up" is a visual poem with my own original score and performance representing the human condition as we continue to push through trials in hope for a brighter future. Watch with headphones on a louder volume for full effect.
"My voice is a puzzle..."(2022)
A short story that takes place in the late 1800s told through body language and musical score. I directed, scored, and edited this film featuring a work for flute and electronics I composed and performed utilizing Max/MSP programming. PLEASE listen with headphones or earbuds on a louder volume for full effect.
DAUNTLESS (Official beatbox video,2021)
This video is based on a flute etude written in 1918 by Karg-Elert from a book of etudes that serve as technical exercises for a flutist; however there is a twist. The composition has turned from an unaccompanied exercise to a full arrangement involving electronics, flute, and beatboxing. There is also a story music video that I made before this music video, see below.
DAUNTLESS (Story music video,2021)
This piece tells a story about a guy who has the “daunting” task of asking a girl for her phone number. Amongst this silly interpretation, there are meaningful undertones; especially in a moment when he is out of focus and imagining his life as if they were together.
The video is based on a flute etude written in 1918 by Karg-Elert from a book of etudes that serve as technical exercises for a flutist; however there is a twist. The composition has turned from an unaccompanied exercise to a full arrangement involving electronics, flute, and beatboxing. In order to visually capture this idea, the music acts as a metaphor as it accompanies the stress the guy feels as he musters up his courage and approaches the girl along with added cut scenes of flute playing and beatboxing.
I want the audience to both laugh at the interpretation and relate to the guys’ situation of stress.
Expect the Unexpected (2021)
This photoshop project was based off of the assigned theme "Expect the Unexpected" in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Corresponding with the idea that COVID-19 was as unexpected as the weather is predictable, the underlying tone of this work centers on society's perception of the pandemic with the storm representing sad human outlook and sunshine symbolizing people seeing the good in a hard situation. The image focuses on a set of glasses that shows one lens with a storm and the other lens with sunshine while the background is filled with face masks to give reference to COVID-19.
Sources: Commercial free images
Regrets and Resolutions (2021)
Composed by: Gary Schocker
Performed by: Clarissa Tracy (flute) and Gail Novak (piano)
Sources: Photography by Clarissa Tracy
Regrets and Resolutions is a musical work for flute and piano by composer Gary Schocker reimagined in this short film about a musician’s walk through life. As I pack up my backpack to head to a practice area, I start my walk through images of artwork symbolizing contemplation. By the time I arrive at my destination ready to play the music, my entire life flashes before my eyes of memories as I play the music which is demonstrated through a series of home videos.
The purpose of this project was to demonstrate artwork skills from photoshop.
Incessant (2021)
This work for flute and electronics utilizes Max/MSP generated seine waves combined with whispering and flute to depict a person living their day to day life. As working citizens, this captures a monotonous daily routine that ends leaving the audience questioning its true meaning. The volume level must be all the way up to feel the vibrations of the music.
Sound Object(2021)
This sound object was created through Falcon on Protools by recording myself playing portamento on the flute (rolling in and out with my embouchure on the head joint) and recording various sounds such as card board rubbing, bubblewrap, knocking on a binder etc. I then created this roughly one minute piece.
Define Magic (2021)
"Define Magic" was a a short one minute silent film to practice different kinds of cuts. I took the opportunity to really work on match cuts when assigned this task. This was also the first creative project on Premiere Pro.
The Phantom of the Opera Music Video (2017)
I included this as my first film in my portfolio because this was when I was learning about video and audio for the first time. This entire music video was made on the now obsolete windows movie maker. My music friends and I were assigned to create a music video and we had the challenge of figuring out what to do with an organist, flutist, harpist, and pianists. Because we had a very talented organist, Andrew Woodruff, and Sarah Crowson and I were already making music as a duo with harp and flute; we decided to do a medley of music from "The Phantom of the Opera."
