Jost Muxfeldt, ...40 Iterations for a Piano Module

Computer Generated Music Composition
* Premiere 1998 Verein für experimentelle Musik, Darmstadt.


... 40 Iterations for a piano module
nimmt sowohl an determinierten wie auch an undeterminierten
Kompositionsprozessen teil, und das Resultat stellt den Gegensatz
dieser Konzepte partiell in Frage.
Auch andere systematische Gegensätze werden gegeneinander ausgespielt.
Letztendlich hat das Ergebnis dieses Experiments auch die ursprünglichen
Intentionen unterwandert, und übrig bleibt ein sich wiederholendes Schema
- ein Minimalstück, etwas im Stil von Saties Vexations.

Die Partitur wurde übrigens mit einem CAD-Programm für Architektur notiert.

40 Iterations ...

For piano module or 2 player pianos. Monitors or instruments should be at opposite ends of the stage. Feel free to use performers rather than machines, so long as the rhythm is accurate and the playing is non-expressive.

Progressions for each voice of the 4-note chord and triad parts should be determined randomly according to the following principles (remember, each voice of the triad or chord progresses individually):

l < n < h and C
where
l= lowest note limit
n= note
h= highest note limit
C = greatest interval of change

these values can change throughout the piece, but should be determined before the performance. The different grey-values in the score can be used
to determine the change points, but they are only an example.

A very small C will produce a feeling of contrapuntal motion at times.
A large C and a large range between l and h will sound rather pointalistic.

One of the original ideas of the piece was to dichotomize these two possibilities (i.e. counterpoint versus pointalism), and to play with that dichotomy. This is not mandatory, however.

Changes in parameter values need not coincide with the notated changes in rhythm or dynamics. However, the values should be determined once, and should not change from one repetition to the next.

Dynamics are indicated in traditional letters as well as through the tallness of the rectangles.