Study no. 34
Performance Instructions
For 10 instrumentalists.
Prior to performance, each player is assigned one horizontal single-line staff throughout. Only one player should follow each staff.
Prior to performance, each player chooses a single sound event/pitch that can be played loudly and percussively. This determination may or may not be made collectively by the ensemble.
Each staff contains 7 event nodes: one on each side of the staff (far right and left), and 5 in between.
Each time the attack cursor collides with either the far left or far right event nodes, play your predetermined sound. The ensemble will always be in rhythmic unison for these attacks. If the event node is not visible, do not play upon reaching the end of the staff.
Each time the diamond-shaped attack cursor crosses an event node in between the 2 outer nodes, the player will play one of 3 sounds, depending on where the event node is located in reference to the staff: on the line, above the line, or below the line.
The specificities of these sounds need not be predetermined, but the general scope of each area, on/above/below, should be. Possible solutions include:
1: Above = percussive. On the line = sustained. Below = jagged.
2: Above = high register. On the line = mid-register. Below = low register.
3: ???
As long as the general scope of each sonic area is preserved throughout the performance, their specific realization is open.
A small red node will appear on the staff connected to an event node when that node is above or below the staff. This is not an indication of a variation on the 'on the line' event node, but an indicator of the attack point.
Presentation: Allow the score application to run for several iterations before beginning. Using a cue, the ensemble should begin together on one of the outer event nodes.
Duration: 10 minutes or more.
Ryan Ross Smith, June 2014.
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.
