A Refrigerator Hums

A Refrigerator Hums William R. Ayers 

WRA Music • email: william.r.ayers@gmail.com

Notes The refrigerator should be relatively new so that it may last for the duration of the piece. Some care should be given to providing a power source for the refrigerator since the piece can take up to 200 years to perform. If for some reason the power source should fail, the audience may be inclined to continue the humming through their own personal instruments until the power source is restored, but at least one person should be designated to revive power to the refrigerator so that the performance may continue as directed.

Investors in the power source and promoters for the performance may be difficult to find since it is unlikely any of them will live to see the finale. It should also be noted that the instigating performers, some audience members, and a number of refrigerator engineers involved in the performance or its preparation will not live to see the work through to completion. This should not deter them in any way from participating in the work and experiencing it for however long they are able.

Notably, no one will ever hear the beginning and the end of a single performance of this work— that is if the time indications are held strictly and the human lifespan is not significantly altered by breakthroughs in medical technology. Since time indications on the score are relative, one may posit that 20 minutes is roughly 200 years if one considers the entire breadth of the universal timespan. For this reason, the performers and organizers should ensure that the piece lasts at least 150 years, but no longer than 201 seeing that audiences do get antsy. 

A Refrigerator Hums Score

William R. Ayers

q ≈ 1/788,940,000

Refrigerator

4 ã4 |

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*Refrigerator Hums

About 200 years

© 2014 William R. Ayers

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WRA Music