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Keywords:
recorder (12), aleatoric (1)
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Description:
Whole bunch of recorders playing whole bunch of notes.
Ok. This is how it works. This composition is exactly 60 seconds and 60 beats long. One player has a 2 beat theme that he repeats 30 times. One has a 3 beat theme, 20 times. Four beats 15 times, 5 and 12, 6 and 10, 12 and 5, 15 and 4, 20 times 3, and finally one bass recorder plays a 30 beat theme twice.
Also, every theme ends with one beat breath, so on beat 60 everyone for the first time breaths together.
That's it.
Hardware:
Kueng tulipwood sopranino, soprano, alto; olivewood tenor; Yamaha plastic bass.
Software:
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Thats was fast &mdash 02/16/08 - 07:52:18 PM
Holy timing, Batman! &mdash 02/16/08 - 10:23:50 PM
Glad you got a some well deserved breaths in there, Vic. Seemed like a pretty complex undertaking- I have to say you pulled it off well. Very interesting to hear so many different things happening at the same time- yet it was very cohesive. [ Reply to This ]
Strange &mdash 02/17/08 - 04:56:33 AM
very busy &mdash 02/17/08 - 08:11:10 AM
It's hard to follow at first listen - but grows on you on the second and third pass. This quite reminds me of a tree full of birds. The burst of sound into the song was quite hard on my ears because I keep my volume cranked up, a little fade in would have saved me jumping out of my skin the first time, LOL
You certainly don't lack in creativity.
. - Harold [ Reply to This ]
unique &mdash 02/17/08 - 09:05:39 AM
Actually.... &mdash 02/17/08 - 09:09:00 AM
My composition <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/28363">Back Pedal<a/> has 20 identical (tenor) recorders. Like this one, it's kind of an aleatoric piece.
Thanks for the dig.
[ Reply to This ]
Cool theme... &mdash 02/17/08 - 10:28:10 AM
...and I like the mathematical concept behind it, a lot...
...but I want MORE!!!!
;)
Seriously, though: I do. This is really, really good..
What about altering the mathematical progression for a B section, etc? Please excuse me for asking...I've got huge respect for you as a player and composer...just a thought from a colleague... [ Reply to This ]
More, more, more.... &mdash 02/17/08 - 10:37:28 AM
(That's an old disco song, btw.)
Well, you could do this with a larger number with more divisors. I toyed with the idea of using perfect numbers (numbers that are the sum of their divisors) but that didn't make the piece intrinsically more interesting. Using a large power of 2 (say 128) would give a cool effect of increasingly big breaths being taken.
B section? Well, this is the second aleatoric piece I've done like this, where the players (eh, that's me, me, me, .....) get some simple instruction and then stick to it. I think the fun of this sort of composition is that it's one idea, followed through to its ultimate conclusion. You could play this with a bunch of people who've never played together, with only minimal coordination. So a B section with different instructions would kind of go against that notion. But if you're saying between the lines that a minute is about all the audience can bear of this sort of music, then I agree. A much longer piece would quickly outstay its welcome.
Thanks for your comments. Your kind words always appreciated. [ Reply to This ]
Actually... &mdash 02/17/08 - 01:13:04 PM
...I'm saying that I think the piece could go longer...if you changed the mathematical sequence or if you started adding layers over the existing structure in different time signatures...well...I'm sure I don't need to tell you what could be done...
In essense: I'm saying that I like this piece a lot. And I want MORE MORE MORE!!! I'm a spoiled brat!
;) [ Reply to This ]
It's a dilemma &mdash 02/17/08 - 02:51:10 PM
This piece is by definition repetitive, so if you want to stretch it you have to find a way to ameliorate that. Right now, for instance, you can clearly make out the 2,3,4 beat themes, but the longer ones are increasingly hard to find. You'd have to find a way around that. I could indeed compose themes that would fit together in changing ways, but that would kinda negate the aleatoric nature of the piece. Dilemma. [ Reply to This ]
~ &mdash 02/17/08 - 05:52:34 PM
Nice of you to take the time to explain your artistic process. Thanks. [ Reply to This ]
This is &mdash 02/17/08 - 11:17:49 AM
a very cool sound- don't know if i've ever heard that many recorders at once.There is a great piece by Steve Reich for multiple guitars called "Electric Counter Point" which has a similar effect.Excellent piece. [ Reply to This ]
I heart Steve Reich &mdash 02/17/08 - 11:37:28 AM
I don't know the piece you mention, but I'll check it out.
The typical Reich piece has those shifting parts, as in Violin Phase, or Six Pianos. Curious to see if I've unconsciously or unknowingly copied him with this piece.
Thanks! [ Reply to This ]
Hey &mdash 02/17/08 - 11:19:48 AM
Polyrhythmic fugue? &mdash 02/17/08 - 11:49:40 AM
what would you call this... so we have multiple overlaid rhythms, that eventually line up (lowest common factor) at the very end... dang, you did this experiment before I did! Very cool mathematical experiment, and all the better by performing it with real instruments. I enjoyed mentally trying to pick out the different gear-teeth as they rotated around, ready to line up!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
waaaay cool &mdash 02/17/08 - 12:48:51 PM
i love lab experiments like this - tree full of birds is right on - and quite magical birdies they are. the breath at the close was just perfect.
i really enjoyed hearing your synapses firing.
anne
[ Reply to This ]
This is cool - I really like program music &mdash 02/17/08 - 04:35:10 PM
I assume you played all the parts 0 or do you have a lot of cool friends who can count really well? You and SmokeyVW should get your analytic brains together sometime. [ Reply to This ]
Isn't &mdash 02/19/08 - 07:52:23 AM
it the way Bach was composing his music? Math, math and again math? :)
So those journeyman years in inflation of master's bellows taught you something after all :)
An interesting enterprise Vic with very smart and unexpected ending.
like it a lot
P.
[ Reply to This ]
I see you read the bio &mdash 02/19/08 - 03:45:26 PM
Yep, that's how one learns: pay careful attention to what the master is doing.
Thanks for the kind words. [ Reply to This ]
[gasp!] &mdash 02/19/08 - 05:13:39 PM
This is cool. One doesn't usually hear recorders making this kind of ensemble sound.
Either my ears started getting used to it towards the end, or things just got more interesting. The textures in the latter half of the piece seemed more complex and varied than the early portion of the piece.
That last breath at the end reminded me of getting ready to play a horn passage in the orchestra, then suddenly the conductor lowers his arms. [gasp!] [ Reply to This ]
Textures &mdash 02/19/08 - 05:39:27 PM
I assure you, the whole piece consists of simple repetitions. I've played every theme only once, after which Logic is doing the repeating. So the second half should be more or less the same as the beginning, and any differences you hear are purely in the mind.
Thanks for commenting. [ Reply to This ]
This is just plain weird. &mdash 02/21/08 - 07:30:54 PM
Perfect &mdash 02/21/08 - 07:58:21 PM
Maths and music &mdash 02/22/08 - 05:02:42 AM
forever intertwined.
An interesting exercise very well executed.
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Rainman makes music &mdash 02/23/08 - 09:29:28 AM
Are you an excellent driver?... this is the kind of thing I always find interesting... I wish I'd thought of it... it took a couple of listens to try and identify different parts... I'm an excellent driver too, but I didn't succeed.. it creates a bed (soundtrack-like)... and would provide an excellent launching pad for a more extended orchestral work, that could emerge out of this...
but on it's own it would make a great ringtone for rainman [ Reply to This ]
Ringtone for rainman &mdash 02/23/08 - 09:59:36 AM
WOW &mdash 02/23/08 - 09:47:09 AM
This is amazing. I have no idea how you did this, it seems like it's all confusion, but then it's totally not. I love the breaths - this is just really cool! Thanks! [ Reply to This ]
Mechanically organic. &mdash 02/27/08 - 05:00:55 PM
An oddly compelling listen which held me till the your "last breath"
[ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 02/28/08 - 02:28:44 PM
Brilliant idea with the notes playing.... I like the sound on this song... A great happy tune... Thanks for sharing.... [ Reply to This ]
It all adds up &mdash 03/01/08 - 07:32:36 PM
Good math &mdash 04/07/08 - 07:54:25 PM
This music and the concept behind it has the feeling of a very human message to some ancient astronaut civilization that took off the stars. Are you calling them to return? This unique beath of fresh musical air might just do the trick. [ Reply to This ]
Enjoyable! &mdash 04/25/08 - 09:02:27 AM
Yes, it's unique. But wonderfully done and excellently played. Nice!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
WOW &mdash 05/01/08 - 09:30:33 PM
Bunch &mdash 06/11/08 - 03:58:25 PM
Once again &mdash 06/17/08 - 02:42:20 PM
Just like in your Renaissance piece, the concept is great . . . But (and yippee) the music is so much more than the concept. Sometimes in conceptual art (and I am a big fan of conceptual art) the concept is the art. You seem to have the best of both worlds the interesting concept and beautiful music that could stand alone. [ Reply to This ]
Also &mdash 06/17/08 - 02:43:49 PM
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