hoadley_icmc_2014_brown_final.pdf (431.6 kB)
December Variations (on a Theme by Earle Brown)
conference contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 13:37 authored by Richard HoadleyEarle Brown’s December 1952 is a score characterised by the use of 31 abstract graphical elements. Brown later re-imagined it as a Calderesque orrery in which “elements would actually physically be moving in front of the pianist” [1]. Although there are many more recent examples of graphic, open and animated scores, for the purposes of this practice-led research the simplicity and grace of Brown’s score makes it a pragmatic choice as it is significantly easier to follow the “translations” being applied. This composition involves research into the construction of a software system allowing multiple automatic ‘variations’ of the piece, live and in real-time, using common practice notations.
Each variation is created by mapping a uniquely generated version of Brown’s original score according to a series of settings - the size and shape of the elements, the ‘route’ taken through the score: right to left, top to bottom or vice versa, etc. In its current form there is no interaction between performer and score.
The notation provided, although detailed, is intended to be used as a foundation for performance rather than as precise instructions. In this way the project also helps explore the nature or intuition and improvisation through technology and notation.
History
Name of event
International Computer Music Conference (ICMC 2014)Location
Athens, GreeceEvent start date
2014-09-14Event finish date
2014-09-20File version
- Published version
Language
- eng
Legacy posted date
2015-06-22Legacy creation date
2022-04-29Legacy Faculty/School/Department
ARCHIVED Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences (until September 2018)Usage metrics
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