Abstract
Context
‘Trying Dyads’ is a modular synthesiser composition which uses a combination of deterministic control alongside random modulation controlling the pitch materials of an alternate tuning (and sometimes microtonal) set of 14 harmonic series intervals.
Aims
This piece brings together my interest in particular cases of microtonal materials which give rise to perceptual decomposition (what I term ‘tonal fission’, as per Bregman’s auditory scene analysis, as well as the compositions of Tenney, Niblock, Branca, and La Monte Young) with non-deterministic or defamiliarised pitch control in modular synthesisers as cybernetic practices.
Process
The piece uses a 14-interval scale, with varying analogue voltages (dual function-generator-and-mixer: Maths by Make Noise, an extrapolation of the Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator, and a sample-and-hold fed by noise: Intellijel Noise Tools) passed through a programmable quantiser (Expert Sleepers Disting, which supports Scala scale files) to play a plucked-string physical model.
1/1
33/32
17/16
35/32
9/8
5/4
11/8
23/16
3/2
13/8
7/4
15/8
31/16
63/32
2/1
Insights and Outcomes
The unequal (often microtonal) divisions produce defamiliarised melodic contours, generating dyads against an evolving harmonic drone, which themselves contribute to perceptual desegregation as they align with upper harmonic content of the drone. The near-unison microtonal ‘clusters’ of intervals bracketing the octave (five intervals within first major second, and five within the final major second) provide a more varied counterpoint to the more stable mid-octave region (focused on 11th, 23rd, perfect fifth – or 3rd harmonic – and 13th harmonics) with rich cases for ‘testing’ microtonal materials. Pitch control is provided by a similarly defamiliarised combination of looping function generator, slewed sample-and-hold, and bipolar mixer, allowing the player to ‘mix’ degrees of deterministic/non-deterministic control, encouraging a harmonic textural focus as opposed to traditional contouring.
Dissemination
Premiered at NMDX, IMRO, Dublin, 26th April 2024.
Released on CMC Amplify podcast: https://www.cmc.ie/amplify/episode-105
‘Trying Dyads’ is a modular synthesiser composition which uses a combination of deterministic control alongside random modulation controlling the pitch materials of an alternate tuning (and sometimes microtonal) set of 14 harmonic series intervals.
Aims
This piece brings together my interest in particular cases of microtonal materials which give rise to perceptual decomposition (what I term ‘tonal fission’, as per Bregman’s auditory scene analysis, as well as the compositions of Tenney, Niblock, Branca, and La Monte Young) with non-deterministic or defamiliarised pitch control in modular synthesisers as cybernetic practices.
Process
The piece uses a 14-interval scale, with varying analogue voltages (dual function-generator-and-mixer: Maths by Make Noise, an extrapolation of the Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator, and a sample-and-hold fed by noise: Intellijel Noise Tools) passed through a programmable quantiser (Expert Sleepers Disting, which supports Scala scale files) to play a plucked-string physical model.
1/1
33/32
17/16
35/32
9/8
5/4
11/8
23/16
3/2
13/8
7/4
15/8
31/16
63/32
2/1
Insights and Outcomes
The unequal (often microtonal) divisions produce defamiliarised melodic contours, generating dyads against an evolving harmonic drone, which themselves contribute to perceptual desegregation as they align with upper harmonic content of the drone. The near-unison microtonal ‘clusters’ of intervals bracketing the octave (five intervals within first major second, and five within the final major second) provide a more varied counterpoint to the more stable mid-octave region (focused on 11th, 23rd, perfect fifth – or 3rd harmonic – and 13th harmonics) with rich cases for ‘testing’ microtonal materials. Pitch control is provided by a similarly defamiliarised combination of looping function generator, slewed sample-and-hold, and bipolar mixer, allowing the player to ‘mix’ degrees of deterministic/non-deterministic control, encouraging a harmonic textural focus as opposed to traditional contouring.
Dissemination
Premiered at NMDX, IMRO, Dublin, 26th April 2024.
Released on CMC Amplify podcast: https://www.cmc.ie/amplify/episode-105
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Dublin, Ireland |
| Publisher | Contemporary Music Centre |
| Publication status | Published online - 20 Apr 2024 |