Household Items is an ever-expanding collection of songs and videos created by composer pianist/composer Brian Friedland utilizing texts from domestic products, childhood poetry, and a lease from an overzealous landlord for lyrics and musical inspiration. Between its subject material and finely calibrated performances, Household Items has garnered fans across the United States and received attention from a wide array of sources. Friedland and his product-based music have been featured by NPR, Boston culture blog BDC wire, and shared widely among fans of Pirate’s Booty snacks, earning him and his numerous collaborators invitations to perform.
Household Items has been performed and discussed at elementary schools, house concerts, family concert series, and even for a Harvard University music class. The makers of Pirate’s Booty were so impressed with Friedland’s epic operatic composition and colorful video based on their product description that they sent him nearly a lifetime supply, motivating Friedland to embark on an ambitious project. In 2015, Friedland took his favorite household items songs and rearranged them for a 23 piece orchestra for “Household Items: New and Improved Formula,” a follow-up to his debut 2008 “Household Items” album. In addition, he further collaborated with a cast of visual artists and photographers to create a series of vivid multimedia videos, which have been widely shared on YouTube and were funded with the support of nearly 200 backers on Kickstarter.
His two Household Items albums have been praised by pianist Frank Carlberg as "clever, witty, beautifully crafted and brilliantly executed" and by jazz educator Shelly Berg as a collection of "fantastic, funny and poignant voyages."
To read Friedland's full accounting of this project's history, please check out the Household Items Story. In addition to his Household Items music, Friedland is a prolific jazz composer and active performer with many Boston-based ensembles. More information on his music can be found at his website, www.brianfriedland.com.
Household Items has been performed and discussed at elementary schools, house concerts, family concert series, and even for a Harvard University music class. The makers of Pirate’s Booty were so impressed with Friedland’s epic operatic composition and colorful video based on their product description that they sent him nearly a lifetime supply, motivating Friedland to embark on an ambitious project. In 2015, Friedland took his favorite household items songs and rearranged them for a 23 piece orchestra for “Household Items: New and Improved Formula,” a follow-up to his debut 2008 “Household Items” album. In addition, he further collaborated with a cast of visual artists and photographers to create a series of vivid multimedia videos, which have been widely shared on YouTube and were funded with the support of nearly 200 backers on Kickstarter.
His two Household Items albums have been praised by pianist Frank Carlberg as "clever, witty, beautifully crafted and brilliantly executed" and by jazz educator Shelly Berg as a collection of "fantastic, funny and poignant voyages."
To read Friedland's full accounting of this project's history, please check out the Household Items Story. In addition to his Household Items music, Friedland is a prolific jazz composer and active performer with many Boston-based ensembles. More information on his music can be found at his website, www.brianfriedland.com.