Study no. 12 [Windmills] is an animated score for bottle blowers (ie. blowing across the top of a glass bottle to create a tone). The animated notation features 9 windmills spread across a green landscape, with each indicating when each performer should take a sip, or make a tone. Extra notational elements include clouds, the sun, moon and stars (for optional audience interaction).
Performance Instructions
For 9 bottle blowers. Versions of the score for more players may be available upon request.
Each player begins with a full, glass bottle of water. Alternative bottled liquids may be substituted.
Each player follows one windmill throughout. Only one player follows each windmill.
Each time one of the white blades crosses the base of a player's respective windmill, that player should produce a short tone by blowing across the top of the bottle.
Each time the black blade crosses the base, take a small sip.
The piece ends when all bottles are empty. Performers may opt to have extra full bottles on hand to increase duration.
Variation: The audience may be instructed to interpret the rising of the sun and moon, and the appearance of clouds and stars in some way. The audience sound should be extremely quiet, never louder than the bottle blowers. These instructions should be determined by the ensemble/director previous to performance.
Duration: Continue until all performers have emptied at least one bottle.
If possible, the Animated Score should be projected for both the performers and audience to see. If this is not possible, one or more monitors can be used.
Ryan Ross Smith, May 2012.
If you would like a copy of this animated score for performance, or have any questions about the animated notation used in this piece, feel free to get in touch! My contact information can be found here.
