Requiem in AM

From Andrew Garton's wiki

Requiem in A Modulation is multi-modal radiophonic composition for solo voice, aleatoric^[1] micro-tonal scales and valve radios. Inspired by Mozart's Requiem in A Minor, Requiem in A Modulation is a mass mourning the death of analogue spectrum. mass mourning the death of amplitude modulation - the analogue broadcast spectrum. Commissioned by KunstRadio for live broadcast, on-air and online, 2 December 2008.

[edit] Background

Many countries will see the shut-down of analogue / AM broadcasts, both radio in TV, from 2009 on wards. The US will halt analogue television in January 2009. Australia will do the same, both television and radio, in 2012. The Chinese will wait a little longer, but Japan and many EU countries have chosen 2012 as their cut off date. By 2020 it is unlikely any analogue broadcasting, as we know it today, will exist.

(additional background notes, referring to spectrum politics in brief, here...)

The titled, inspired by Mozart's Requiem in A Minor, is a mass mourning the death of analogue spectrum.

[edit] Concept notes

I want to do something about the demise of the analogue spectrum, it's death knell so to speak, focusing on the regions/countries of the world where analogue/AM is still very much in use... in addition, there is the gulf that will appear suddenly between those that do migrate to digital receivers and those that won't, can't or don't really understand what's going on.

[edit] Components

(description of each component of this radiophonic work)

[edit] Voice

[edit] Processing

[edit] PD Patch

The following sets out a draft operational flow for the PD patch.

Long, sustained note is sung
A scale, based on a pre-selected Makam, is invoked
Over time (can be calibrated live) the scale forms a chord, re-pitching the original input/voice. The chord type can be pre-defined.
The chord is sustained for a set period (can be calibrated live)
A second note is sung... the process repeats.

Additions to the above:

A new makam can be selected either on "the fly", or added to a "tuning grid" (x), much like a radio dial (note, possible visual metaphor)

Chord rules can be re-defined on real-time, or added to the tuning grid (x/y) (note, possible use of hardware controller, or radio dial visual metaphor)

Length of note/delay may be re-defined in real-time, or added to the tuning grid, x/y/z

[edit] Valve radios

(description of use of radio - possible processing via additional instance of voice PD patch)

Up to four valve radios will be performed in unison, each with the dial at a pre-set frequency, performers changing the tuning according to a scored arrangement.

[edit] Text

(final text for spoken word modes)

[edit] Requirements

(technical, production and performance requirements)

[edit] Acknowledgements

KunstRadio: Commissioning organisation and broadcaster
Frank Barknecht: PD coding
ESC im Labor: Work space, net access and logistics in Graz

[edit] References

[edit] Theory

[edit] Software

Pure Data (PD)

[edit] Notes

↑ Aleatoric music (also aleatory music or chance music; from the Latin word alea, meaning "dice") is music in which some element of the composition is left to chance, and/or some primary element of a composed work's realization is left to the determination of its performer(s). The term is most often associated with procedures in which the chance element involves a relatively limited number of possibilities. Wikipedia

[_note-0] Aleatoric music (also aleatory music or chance music; from the Latin word alea, meaning "dice") is music in which some element of the composition is left to chance, and/or some primary element of a composed work's realization is left to the determination of its performer(s). The term is most often associated with procedures in which the chance element involves a relatively limited number of possibilities. Wikipedia

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