performance of Means with the sound from their own ends in Basel by Ensemble Delirium

MEANS WITH THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN ENDS / ENDS AS THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN MEANS
2020
recording protocol and performance score for ensemble

A protocol that contains two pieces:

ENDS AS THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN MEANS:

Scripted individual meetings with musicians are videotaped and recorded. The resulting audiovisual documents, containing traces of every sound and action necessary to implement a found piece (LaMonte Young - Composition 1960#7), are presented simultaneously.

MEANS WITH THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN ENDS
recording and performance protocols
(8 performers, conductor and composer; 8-channel audio)

The totality of sounds produced during the implementation of a found musical piece (LaMonte Young - Composition 1960#7) is recorded and played back during one of its performances.

General description of the process:

The performers receive instructions (score 1) they have to carry out without making any sound in order to generate material (a list of instrumental techniques) used in the next phases of the work. At this point, the musicians of the ensemble (except maybe the conductor) should not know the work on which the piece is based yet.

Then, a first meeting is organised between each musician and the composer, the conductor and possibly an audio engineer in charge of the technical aspect of the recording. During the session, the musicians individually present, demonstrate and discuss the (not yet played) results of the first score with the composer. Every participant of the meeting (except the possible sound engineer) follow a script (score 2.1) enforced by the conductor consisting of a set cues corresponding to different situations. The purpose of this first session is twofold: generating the material necessary to write score 3 and giving a minimal rehearsing time to the musicians (they should not rehearse the contents outside of this session).

Afterwards, a second meeting with the composer is organized with the musicians. This time, the complete ensemble is present for the recording session and all follow the same instructions (score 2.2) also directed by the conductor. Score 2.2 and 3 are given at this point. There is no additional meeting or rehearsal time after this "dress rehearsal".

If the process stops before a performance, the result is to be presented as a fixed-media work consisting on the simultaneous presentaition of the video and audio recordings of the meetings. Its title is then “Ends as the sound from their own means”.

With the material generated during the recording sessions, the composer writes further instructions (score 3) aimed at a performance. During it, the musicians listen to the recording of score 2.1 live in front of the audience and try to react to four situations (silence, instrumental playing, oneself speaking, someone else speaking) according to the third score. The piece performed will be composed of long tones and is very easy to play. The performance is to be titled “Means with the sound from their own ends.”

Means with the sound from their own ends

recording and performance protocols (8 performers, conductor and composer; 8-channel audio)
performance:
28.10.2020, Musik-Akademie, Basel

performers:
Delirium Ensemble – Wiktor Kociuban (conductor) / Cristina Arcos Cano (saxophone) / Sergi Bayarri (clarinet) / Paco Olmedo (trombone) / Henrik Dewes (e-guitar) / Marius Schnurr (e-guitar) / Cécile Unternährer (percussion) / Jérémie Pannetier (percussion) / Demetre Gamsachurdia (synthesizer)

audio recording & sound engineering:
Jan Mikael Szafirowski

video (youtube)

Ends as the sound their own means

recording protocols for a fixed media work (8 performers, conductor and composer; 1-channel video, 2-channel audio)
screening:
02.12.2021, Don Bosco, Basel
13.09.2022, Don Bosco, Basel29.10.2022, Grosse Halle, Bern
23.11.2022, Phonos, Barcelona

performers:
Raphaël Belfiore (composer)
Jan Mikael Szafirowski (sound engineer)
Delirium Ensemble – Wiktor Kociuban (conductor) / Cristina Arcos Cano (saxophone) / Sergi Bayarri (clarinet) / Paco Olmedo (trombone) / Henrik Dewes (e-guitar) / Marius Schnurr (e-guitar) / Cécile Unternährer (percussion) / Jérémie Pannetier (percussion) / Demetre Gamsachurdia (synthesizer)
audio recording and mixing: Jan Mikael Szafirowski
video: Cristina Arcos Cano
editing: Raphaël Belfiore

video (youtube)

MEANS WITH THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN ENDS / ENDS AS THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN MEANS2020 recording protocol and performance score for ensemble

MEANS WITH THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN ENDS / ENDS AS THE SOUND FROM THEIR OWN MEANS
2020
recording protocol and performance score for ensemble