Performance Paradigms
This page is a forum to discuss live performance with electronics as a general topic but also as specifically relates to our upcoming show at CellSpace on November 30th.
As it stands right now, the general concept is to perform together as an ensemble for the duration of our half hour of allotted time. So lets get creative. When we played at KZSU it was more or less a jam with very little preconceived structure. I think it's time to move beyond that, at least a little.
First a quick rundown of who's going to be in on this. Please add your name to the list below along with a detailed description of what instrument you intend to play (i.e. if you write "laptop" please elaborate further).
The Ensemble so far:
Chris Warren: 8-string bass, mixing
Adnan Marquez: saxophone
(you)
Ok, now that that's out of the way, lets get down to business...
Here's where we put the ideas. PLEASE add/edit/elaborate, but let's not erase anything just yet.
- Idea #1: Series
All of the people who are performing on laptops wire themselves as a chain, the output of each going into the input of the next. So each person takes the sound of the person before them and modifies it before passing it on. Kinda like a big game of telephone. The last person in the chain sends their sound to the audience, but also back to the first person in the chain.
- Idea#2: Chuck Choir
Each laptop player is given a sample and a simple Chuck script. The script is a basic Karplus-Strong-style recursive lowpass filter, so when you change the delay time, you change the resonant pitch of the sample. By modifying this time, and adding and replacing shreds, each player can create a chorus of their own sample and the group as a whole becomes a wall of sound. A lead player structures the piece by indicating density (any volunteers?)
- Idea #3: Drum Machine Circle
At a specific time, we all start short percussive loops at the same tempo. Each person then unplugs from the main PA and we disperse through the audience, playing through our laptop speakers. Then we let the phasing work its magic. This would probably be cool as a set closer. Ladies and gentlemen, the MSTs have left the building.
- Idea #4: Slowly, Loudly
Sort of a drone piece. Each player makes a continuous sound and tries to change it AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE. The desired effect would be a cumulative block of sound that, while it clearly has a certain shimmer to it, displays no obvious movement that the listener can discern.
- Idea #5: Your Idea
As far as rehearsals go, I doubt we have the time for much as the end of the quarter looms near. So instead, I propose we develop our ideas on this forum to the extent we can and then once they've taken shape, we have a single rehearsal a few days before the show.
“In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other note you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style.”
