fl0cking?

Jeremy Rosenstock

fl0cking? for fixed media

2 fl0cking?, for fixed media

Program Notes

This work is inspired by a concept from "Spectromorphology," a set of terminology developed by Denis Smalley to describe and analyze electroacoustic music. In Smalley's words, "flocking" describes "the loose but collective motion of micro- or small object elements whose activity and changes in density need to be considered as a whole, as if moving in a flock."

The piece features three recorded elements: a cluster of sine tones, a forest clearing, and the Pacific Ocean. The "cluster" material consists of just intonation intervals paired with their closest equal temperament equivalents. Aside from the octave (which exists in both tuning systems), each equal/just interval combination creates beat frequencies that build up throughout the work, changing the literal harmonic rhythm in the process.

The forest clearing recording consists of a variety of birds interacting, ranging from pitched bird songs to unpitched, rhythmic woodpeckers. The other field recording features a close-miked rocky beach as waves break. Together, these soundscapes offer differing visions of flocking based in the natural world, in contrast to the abstract sine tones.

3 fl0cking?, for fixed media Key

All actions in the box, or "cell," are to be repeated until a new boxed action is introduced.

A timestamp for an action, usually placed below said action.

Further Comments on Notation All accidentals for the tones are borrowed from Helmholtz-Ellis JI Pitch Notation, as designed by Marc Sabat and Wolfgang Von Schweinitz. All cent values are in deviation from equal temperament. All just intervals are in relation to the opening A 440 Hz tone.

For the field recordings, excerpts from spectrograms are used to give an example of the textural and harmonic material within the soundscapes.

4

fl0cking?

Jeremy Rosenstock

Birdsong

/

∑

slow onsets for all tones to same dynamic

Tones

U & jw o

Seashore

5

Bsong.

Tones

Seash.

/

jU w

0:13

0:33

0:50

-2

f

0:04

/U w

o -1 4 uU w

0:10

∑

/

&

zU w

w 4U

w zU

jU w

+2

1:09

1:27

1:46

2:04

2:19

D# -49

o

mf

1:30

Tones

Seash.

& /

nU w

/ /

0:53

10

Bsong.

f

1:50

w 0vU

zU w

2:34

2:54

F+31

w <U

w jU

jU w

3:10

3:28

3:36

-31

slow offsets for all tones; timings refer to ends of pitches

jw

o

3:55

5 16

Bsong.

Tones

Seash.

/

&

Tones

Seash.

/

& /

o

4:40

/w

jw

4:05

uw

4:19

4:30

zw

5:00

jj< z0vjww ww

all tones fade out

4:39

o

/ 21

Bsong.

√ ∑ √ ∑

5:10

√ o ∑

5:30