SprachSchlag
for percussion and live-electronics
studio : Klang Projekte Weimar / 2000 / duration: 13:00 min
SprachSchlag is a rhythmic game between the instrumental part and the electroacoustic part. All rhythms are derived from speech analysis in different languages. The principal instruments are skin (grosse caisse, tom tom) and vibraphone. They are accompanied by some metal sounds (tamtam, Peking gongs, crotales).
All electroacoustic sounds are live treatments of the percussion sequences and prepared soundfiles, composed from voice and percussion sources. The goal of the electroacoustic part is the prolongation of the gestures of the percussionist. The energy (dynamics) of the live playing is traced by the computer to decide all parameters of the electroacoustic part. Thus it is the percussionist himself controlling all possible aspects inside a certain "Event" (see technical notes "how the electroacoustic part works" for detailed explanations).
Even if the live-electronic part is controlled by the playing style of the instrumentalist, the performance needs a second musician, advancing events and controlling the amplification and mix. He has to know the percussion score to accompany the instrumentalist.
The electroacoustic part is programmed as a Max/MSP-standalone application for Macintosh (G4). The program contains all sound sequences and event handling for the live-treatment. The events are notated as numbers (1-57). Number one serves as initialisation. At every event the musician controlling the live-electronic part is hitting the spacebar of the Macintosh keyboard to activate the actual event.
rehearsal recording with Abel Billard
