Study no. 9.1, like most of my animated scores named like "X.Y" follows a similar approach to the animated notation used in Study no. 9. The concept of this score is to slowly construct a 10-pitch chord, starting with short, accented tones that become increasingly sustained toward the end of the piece.
Performance Instructions
For 10 instrumentalists.
Prior to performance, the ensemble collectively determines a 10-pitch chord.
Each player plays one of these pitches throughout the duration of the piece, and should follow the staff line based on their respective pitch's frequency relative to the predetermined chord. In other words, whoever is assigned the lowest pitch reads the bottom staff line, 2nd lowest reads the 2nd staff line from the bottom, and so on.
Each staff line contains a horizontal line with 2 grey nodes which is repeatedly traversed from left to right by an orange attack cursor.
Each time the attack cursor reaches the grey event node on the right side of the staff line, play the assigned pitch. Dynamics range from F to FF, short and accented.
As the piece progresses, extensions (red line and node) will occasionally appear off the right event node. These indicate that the pitch should be sustained until the attack cursor has reached the node at the end (right side) of the line. This node denotes the cutoff point, and should not be articulated.
Orange lines that extend left from the right event node indicate that the player begins playing their pitch at the start (left side) of the extension, to crescendo from PPP to F/FF by the time it arrives at the right event node.
Duration: approx. 10 minutes.
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, 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.
