Annie Hui-Hsin HSIEH Chamber of Glistening Whispers - for a pianist, a grand piano, and electronics 2018 Full Score
Program note This piece portrays a scenario of an intimate conversation between the pianist and the piano. Treated as a big resonating echo chamber, the interior of the piano is tickled, caressed, soothed, inspected and provoked by the various ways the pianist is instructed to articulate the strings. Like a piece of foam soaking in centuries of repertory memory, the piano slowly and gradually awakens to respond to the initiations of the pianist, emerging from a passive state to become a sounding partner to the pianist.
Tech Requirement 1. Piano string articulators:
bare hands, studded glove with brass paper fasteners, a single high-pitched crotale (preferably A# or B)
2. Electronics:
The fixed media parts will be operated via small portable audio devices, rather than routing the playback via house speakers and a central controlling mixing board. The setup is as below:
- 2 sets of audio devices made up of a music player (capable of reading WAV. files), small audio amplifier and speakers (Device 1) and transducers (Device 2). Both powered by a 12v power supply each.
- Device 1: 2 x stereo speakers attached to the amplifier, place inside of the piano (see diagram below), plays the fixed media track.
- Device 2: 2 x surface transducers attached to the amplifier. One is placed on top of the low strings, the other inside one of the plate holes on the right. This device plays a super low sine wave that will trigger the inner vibration of the instrument body and the lower strings. (See diagram below)
- A power strip that provides power for the 2 devices
- 2 microphones routed to the house speakers to amplified the all the sounds coming from the piano
A set of the audio device
- Audio amplifier connected to 2 small speakers
- Powered by a 12v power supply that will need to be connected to a power strip
- An audio cable connecting the audio player to the amplifier
Technical Setup (demonstrated on a Steinway Model D)
Notes:
-The exact layout of the audio devices will need to be adjusted depending on the size and make of the piano. However, for Device 1, the intension of the setup should always be creating a semi-antiphonal response from where the pianist is and her/his opposite.
- Remove the piano lid for the performance.
-The pianist should adjust the playback volume as appropriate for the particular piano that will be used for the performance.