ricercar for performers, video, sensor and interactive electronics

ricercar for performers, video, sensor and interactive electronics

2020

This is the score of the composition by Yuri Akbalkan

For more details and updates, please visit https://akbalkan.com/works/ricercar/

Performance notes

Technical equipment

Performer 1: percussion (drum kit)*

Performer 2: two-handed saw** (+ bow), alto flute

Performer 3: two-handed saw** (+ bow), bass clarinet

Performer 4: laptop (Max MSP/Jitter)

1x Laptop (with installed Max MSP/Jitter)

see: https://cycling74.com/downloads

timeline (approximate time indicators)

performers (instructions related to 1, 2, 3)

visual content (projection screen)

operated by the performer 4

audio (PA system) operated by the performer 4

Audio

1x Mixing desk

1x PA system (2x speakers, 1x subwoofer)

1x cardioid dynamic mic to amplify drum kit

2x condenser mic to amplify flute and clarinet

1x AUX from mic to mixing desk

1x AUX from laptop (off-stage) to mixing desk

Video

1x projector

1x HDMI from laptop (off-stage) to projector

1x projection screen

Light on/off operated by light board operator

Stage equipment * Drum kit setup is up to the performer (e. g. bass drum,

snare drum, hi-hat, china/crash cymbals).

** Can be replaced by suspended cymbal with a bow;

note however that two-handed saw sounds much more

exciting and has a rich overtone spectrum characteristics.

3x chairs for performers 1, 2, 3

3x music stands for performers 1, 2, 3

1x chair and 1x table for performer 4

SCREEN

1

4 3 Mic Mic

Mic

Camera

Color Light

AUDIENCE

AUDIO/VIDEO/MEDIA CONTROL TABLE

2

Laptop

PULSE 00:00 → (~2')

1

performer 1: sitting

performers 2 & 3: play

2 two-handed saws with bows

play sustained sounds

fixed rhythm: see addendum 1

NOTHING (JUST SITTING)

2

3

PLAY SAW

PLAY SAW

run: noise-dot.maxpat

black screen

white noise texture

growing from pixel

run: pulse.maxpat

Soft light on the performers

kinky sound waves (high)

constant sound (300 Hz)

low frequency pulse (34 Hz)

addendum 1

2 two-handed saws (suspended by hand) sound

pause

one square = 110 bpm

arco (п – down bowing all the time)

l. v. (non vibr. – without special hand-vibration)

I II

I II

I II

I II

I II loop (sync the ending

with electronics)

I II

:

:

bend the saws sharply

↓

VISION IN TOAD 02:00 → (~1')

1 stop playing

* even the action status labeled as 'nothing',

the performers should be located on the stage

NOTHING

2

3

NOTHING

NOTHING

run: toad.maxpat

rotating toad with

white noise sphere inside

off: kinky sound waves (high)

keep: constant sound (300 Hz)

off: low frequency pulse (34 Hz)

Light off

300 Hz LR: 30"

L: 15"

LR: 10"

R: 10"

OFF

BARKING 03:00 → (~1')

1 NOTHING

nothing

off: toad.maxpat

black screen only

run: barking.wav

Light off

2

3

NOTHING

NOTHING

RECTANGLE 04:00 → (~1'30")

1

performer 1: nothing

performers 2 & 3: play the addendum 3

alto flute & bass clarinet: play one note per

one visual movement pattern (see addendum 2)

NOTHING

2

3

ALTO FLUTE

BASS CLARINET

run: rectangle.maxpat

duration of each movement pattern

including pause before the next one ~10"

run: 1000 Hz

[optional]

Soft light on the performers

addendum 2 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

r

t

y

u

i

o

p

[

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

!

@

#

$

%

^

&

*

f

g

h

j

k

l

;

'

addendum 3 [iñomine] play the notes [p]: one note per one horizontal (for alto flute) or vertical (for bass clarinet) movement pattern (addendum 2)

each note ca. 5" + 4" pause before the next one; when the small square appears on the screen: play soft noise (only air without a pitch), each time ca. 3", logic the same (horizontal – a. fl., vertical – b. cl., the large square – play noise together)

NB: no need to play all the notes from this set, however it is important to play note by note wherever you've start to play

SHORT FILM 05:30 → (~2')

1 NOTHING

nothing

run: short film

[built-in sound]

Light off

2

3

NOTHING

NOTHING

PERCUSSION 07:30 → (~3')

performer 1: play drum kit

rage powerful improvisation;

as fast as possible [ca. 15 beat/sec]

with short break and braking

1 2 NOTHING

run: glitch.maxpat

reflect performer 1

the mic and the camera

are aimed at the percussionist

run: vb.fourses.maxpat

play within the patch

Soft light on the performers

DRUM KIT

3 NOTHING

ZEROING 10:30 → (~2')

1 performers 1, 2, 3:

human–computer interaction

see addendum 4

INTERACT

2

3

INTERACT

INTERACT

run: zeroing.maxpat

reflect performers

the camera is aimed at the performers

run: samples

speech synthesis

Red light on the performers

addendum 4 Voice Assistant: ❗ Attention❗ Zeroing. Confirm Putinism. Before we continue a zeroing process,

we need to confirm you are Putin 😂 (x2). Become a political virgin. 🌱 Eternal ruler. 🤴 The new dimension of power. 💪

[Voice Assistant]: Lift your hand.

Performer: [lifts his/her hand] ✋

Voice Assistant: And another one.

Performer: [lifts another hand] 🤚

Voice Assistant: Good. Drop it back.

Performer: [drops hands] 👇

Voice Assistant: Feel like a beekeeper.

💬

Performer: [feels like a beekeeper] 🐝

Voice Assistant: Yes. Do not stop!

Make Virabhadrasana.

Performer: [makes one (or a few) of the Virabhadrasana's variations] 🧘

Voice Assistant: Very good. 👍

Yes. Go on. You're my little teddy bear!

Performer: [performer sways side to side like a bear] 🧸 🐾

Voice Assistant (with background music): Yes, you are He. 🤗 You are the One: wide-ruling lord, all-powerful leader, shepherd of the people, the lord marshal, lord of men, brilliant... Five seconds of speaking time left. Four, Three,

Two, One. [pause] I'm starting again. Yes. You are the One: ever-young, eagle-eyed, octopus, the great teller of tales, Earth-shaker... Ten seconds of speaking time left. I'll be back in Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One. [pause]

Here I am. Oh, it's true, you are the Unit: magnificent, swan of blood, breaker of rings, slayer of giants, basher of trolls, destroyers of eagle's hunger. Power, unlimited power! That's all for you.

A zeroing process has been completed. Ticking down the last time. Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero. That's all folks! Make sense who may. I switch off. 🔇

Different colours light on the performers from the words “Yes, you are He. 🤗 ” Turn light off with “I switch off. 🔇 ”

THE RAINBOW RABBIT HOLE 12:30 → (~30")

1 NOTHING

nothing

run: rainbow.maxpat

run: slide-up.wav

Light off

2

3

NOTHING

NOTHING

END CREDITS 13:00 → (~30")

1 NOTHING

nothing

2

3

NOTHING

NOTHING

ricercar

Composed by Yuri Akbalkan

Short Film Cast Tumen Dondukov

Rabbit Pushistik

run: credits.maxpat

Short Film Shooting Locations

Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg

ricercar is the searching out composition

explores different and media

run: madonna.wav

playing during the end credits

Light off