This is the complete score of the instant cinema work “To Be Given A Title After It’s Performance.”

page one

page two

The work was inspired by a workshop I attended called “Video Composer’s Workshop”, held at Diapason Gallery in 2010. It had one performance at the gallery in April of the same year. Three performers participated, but the score requires five performers to be fully realized.

Each part is represented in score as “A”-”H”, with 5 blocks for each part. Each block represents a set of instructions for the performers, and the block is repeated until cued by the conductor. A block represents approximately 10 seconds; some blocks can be cut up into one second intervals, and sometimes they refer to the size and placement of props in a video frame and are relative in timing. Precise timing is not important in the performance of this work, and the parts are intended to phase in and out of time with each other during the duration of a block.

This list describes each part in the graphical score and the instructions given to the performers:

Part A – the switching back and forth between two video cameras

Part B – the switching back and forth between two audio signals

Part C – props rotating on a turntable captured with the first video camera

Part D – the relative position, size and length of time props are displayed on a plate of glass captured by the second camera

Part E – the change in pitch of an oscillator

Part F – the change in frequency of an AM radio

Part G – is Part A modulated (modulation is live event)

Part H – is Part B modulated (modulation is live event)

Parts A and B were converted into midi scores. They were played as five loops, one loop for each block. Parts C and D were given to two object handlers. They were used to guide them in the timing and placement of objects under two video cameras. These objects were chosen by the performers before the performance from my collection of props.

Parts E and F would be given to two sound performers, one controlling an oscillator and the other controlling an AM radio. Parts G and H are given to the fifth performer who is also the conductor, and used to guide him or her in modulating the playback of the two midi scores A and B.

Each of the five sections are separated with four solos, one for each object handler, and one for each sound performer. They are intended to break the momentum build up by the performance of each of the five sections.

Hand Drawn Score

1st Segment

Parts A B C D

Parts E F G H

I cut the original score into 5 pieces of 8 tracks per piece. Of the eight tracks, only five have midi scores.

Voice A – the switching back and forth between two video cameras
Voice B – the switching back and forth between two audio signals
Voice C – props rotating on a turntable captured with the first video camera
Voice D – the relative position, size and length of time props are displayed on a plate of glass captured by the second camera
Voice E – the change in pitch of an oscillator
Voice F – the change in frequency of an AM radio
Voice G – is Voice A modulated (modulation is live event)
Voice H – is Voice B modulated (modulation is live event)

Hand Drawn Score

2nd Segment

Parts A B C D

Parts E F G H

Voice A – the switching back and forth between two video cameras
Voice B – the switching back and forth between two audio signals
Voice C – props rotating on a turntable captured with the first video camera
Voice D – the relative position, size and length of time props are displayed on a plate of glass captured by the second camera
Voice E – the change in pitch of an oscillator
Voice F – the change in frequency of an AM radio
Voice G – is Voice A modulated (modulation is live event)
Voice H – is Voice B modulated (modulation is live event)

Hand Drawn Score

3rd Segment

Parts A B C D

Parts E F G H

Voice A – the switching back and forth between two video cameras
Voice B – the switching back and forth between two audio signals
Voice C – props rotating on a turntable captured with the first video camera
Voice D – the relative position, size and length of time props are displayed on a plate of glass captured by the second camera
Voice E – the change in pitch of an oscillator
Voice F – the change in frequency of an AM radio
Voice G – is Voice A modulated (modulation is live event)
Voice H – is Voice B modulated (modulation is live event)

Hand Drawn Score

4th Segment

Parts A B C D

Parts E F G H

I cut the original score into 5 pieces of 8 tracks per piece. Of the eight tracks, only five have midi scores.

Voice A – the switching back and forth between two video cameras
Voice B – the switching back and forth between two audio signals
Voice C – props rotating on a turntable captured with the first video camera
Voice D – the relative position, size and length of time props are displayed on a plate of glass captured by the second camera
Voice E – the change in pitch of an oscillator
Voice F – the change in frequency of an AM radio
Voice G – is Voice A modulated (modulation is live event)
Voice H – is Voice B modulated (modulation is live event)

Hand Drawn Score

5th Segment

Parts A B C D

Parts E F G H

I cut the original score into 5 pieces of 8 tracks per piece. Of the eight tracks, only five have midi scores.

Voice A – the switching back and forth between two video cameras
Voice B – the switching back and forth between two audio signals
Voice C – props rotating on a turntable captured with the first video camera
Voice D – the relative position, size and length of time props are displayed on a plate of glass captured by the second camera
Voice E – the change in pitch of an oscillator
Voice F – the change in frequency of an AM radio
Voice G – is Voice A modulated (modulation is live event)
Voice H – is Voice B modulated (modulation is live event)

this palette was used to create some new midi scores, featured in more recent posts.

#1 shows a sequence of on and offs, 0 or 127, at different rates.  From left to right, two repetitions of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hertz.  More or less.

#2 charts the possible values, from 0 to 127 in increments of 16, roughly.  I wanted these sequences to appear more hand drawn.

prepared for Video Composer’s Workshop

section one of five midi transcriptions of hand drawn graphic score

prepared for Video Composer’s Workshop

section two of five midi transcriptions of hand drawn graphic score

prepared for Video Composer’s Workshop

section three of five midi transcriptions of hand drawn graphic score

prepared for Video Composer’s Workshop

section four of five midi transcriptions of hand drawn graphic score

prepared for Video Composer’s Workshop

section five of five midi transcriptions of hand drawn graphic score

prepared for Video Composer’s Workshop