Sankaram | Only You Will Recognize the Signal

Libretto by Rob Handel 2020

Only You Will Recognize the SignalPERUSALSCORE

Music by Kamala Sankaram

PERUSALSCORE

Only You Will Recognize the Signal an opera for remote

performance

PERUSALSCORE

Music by Kamala Sankaram

Libretto by Rob Handel

2020

PERUSALSCORE

Program Note

The music for this piece draws inspiration from the scientific concept of orbital resonance. Planets in the habitable zone tend to orbit around their stars in simple number ratios, much like the ratios that create musical sounds and musical harmony. Each episode is based on the orbital resonance of a system in the habitable zone and draws on one of Messiaen's seven modes of musical resonance. The travelers begin in the key of Bb, which has been identified as the note corresponding to the vibrational frequencies emanating from the black hole at the center of our galaxy. As each episode takes us further away from our old home, we move down the circle of fifths until, by the 7th episode, we are in the farthest key center from where we started. Bob’s world is entirely created of synthesized sounds. Even when he tries to create organic sounds to aid the travelers’ memories, they are midi approximations. Our journey ends as the travelers must come together and create the world themselves using their own organic voices.

Performance Notes

As this piece is intended for remote performance, performers are given radical flexibility of interpretation. Singers are encouraged to explore their own dramatic interpretation of the text. As much as possible, rhythms should follow the patterns of idiomatic speech. For ensemble sections, singers should not try to match each others tempi.

Sections with time signatures do have pulse in the track, but it is not essential for you to match the track exactly.

Cues are indicated with arrows. If an arrow points up from a chord, wait for the chord to settle before beginning your line. Similarly, if an arrow points up from another singer’s line, wait for them to complete the line before continuing on. If an arrow points down from your line, you are cueing the electronics and can proceed ahead at your own pace.

Sections in boxes should be repeated until the next cue point (the number of repeats can be set in rehearsal).

HONORATA – Italicized text should be spoken. Vocal Fry is noise in the vocal production cause by loose glottal closure.

LIVE ELECTRONICS

Electronics are played in real time using software with live looping capabilities. The piece was created for Ableton Live, but can also be played used Max MSP or Qlab.

While this piece was intended to be performed episodically, it can be performed as a whole evening-length work by using the interstitial drone music as transitions between scenes.

PERUSALSCORE

LIST OF EPISODES AND PLANETS IN THE HABITABLE ZONE

EPISODE 1: A SNOB IN SPACE – BOB, FENNEL, ALLYSON – Our Solar System, Mode 1: Bb

EPISODE 2: A WAILING SONG FOR THE CITY – BOB, FENNEL, ELLERY – TOI 700, Mode 2 Eb

EPISODE 3: THE BAND IS BORN, THE BAND DIES – BOB, FENNEL, SHOTLAND – Gilese, Mode 3 Ab

EPISODE 4: RATHER FAT GRAIN – Sovann – Teegarden’s Star, Mode 4 Db

EPISODE 5: THIS MESH WE’RE IN – BOB, SOVANN, ALLYSON, ELLERY – Proxima Centauri, Mode 5 Gb

EPISODE 6: LIKE SHIPS THAT – BOB, HONORATA, Kepler, Mode 6: B

Episode 7: THE SIGNAL - BOB, FENNEL, ALLYSON, ELLERY, SHOTLAND, SOVANN, HONORATA –Trappist-1, Mode 7: E

PERUSALSCORE

Performing Forces

Bob .................................................................................................................................................................Bass Baritone a computer with a friendly face

Fennel.........................................................................................................................................................Mezzo Soprano a collaborative artist who just wants to be left alone

Allyson ...................................................................................................................................................................Soprano a parent making up for lost time

Ellery ......................................................................................................................................................................Baritone a perennial bohemian

Shotland .......................................................................................................................................................................Bass a self-appointed sensei

Sovann ...................................................................................................................................................................Soprano a young woman who trusts no one

Honorata..............................................................................................................................................................Contralto a traumatized computer

PERUSALSCORE

Duration: 5'

First printing, March 2024

(note: this part was written specifically for Joan La Barbara, and may sit low for most women) Copyright ©2020 Kamala Sankaram. All Rights Reserved. Program Note Copyright ©2020 Kamala Sankaram. All Rights Reserved Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com

PERUSALSCORE

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook