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| 2026 See & Hear score video of work |
What It Is*
by Dan Senn For Snare Drum & Backing Sounds in Stereo Total duration = 4'05" |
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This version of What It Is* (with an asterisk)
extends the original improvisation that is part of a collection named Ten Dancing Cubicles.
Both have the same length with this variation minutely, temporally,
adjusted to enhance access to live performance by a traditional
instrument.
The WII* original improv is thus merged with the snare drum score in 1/4 time and coordinated via a click track heard only in one ear to the performer during the performance. The synchronized backing tracks are played through a stereo sound system using a DAW and software like Ableton Live. TO Learn more about the backing track, go to TDC. The improvised backing sounds are highly nuanced but finely adjusted here and achored to gestural start points within a temporal mesh (netting). Over the last two years I have developed methods for integrating improvised, standalone mediums, i.e. rythmic video and found object improvisation, using a concept of temporal netting with simple anchoring. The purpose here is to create an accessible live score that 1) does not impair the spontaneity of the recorded improvisation while 2} maintaining performance accessibility in the live part that does not appear rudimentary. This ideally, will produces a repeatable artifact performable by a broader range of players. |
 Click setup drawing to enlarge. - Use a 4-out audio interface to insure full fidelity of the backing tracks. - Use computer with Ableton Live or similar software located near the percussionist if necessary. - The percussionist needs the click track in one ear. - The backing track is 32bit 48k .wav. WII* cannot be played, for example, from CD or an IOS device. - The hirez backing track is without reverb but some may be added in small, dead spaces. - The snare should not be amplified. - Contact the composer at rakutoo (at) me dot com for the 32-bit performance files. - WII* may be rehearsed with just the pdf score, practiced with a metronome or the #11 click track provided in the rightmost column. - Eventually WII* must be rehearsed as demonstraed in the image above, that is, with synchronized 32-bit backing tracks played over external speakers and in-ear click track. |
RESOURCES for Reharsal
For volume control use Google Chrome 0. A quick look at the PDF score. 1. View/hear score video with virtual snare + backing track. 2. View/hear score with click track + snare. 3. View/hear backing + snare + click. 4. View/hear backing only. 5. View/hear backing + click. 6. View/hear click only. 7. View/hear snare only. 8. Hear backing only. 9. Hear backing + click. 10. Hear snare + click. 11. Hear click only. 12. Hear backing + snare + Click 14. Hear snare only. Dan
Senn (Prague-Watertown) is an
intermedia artist working in music composition and production, kinetic
sound sculpture, installation work, experimental and documentary film.
He has been a
professor of music and art in the United States and Australia and
travels internationally as a lecturer, performer, producer and
installation
artist. He lives in Prague directing the Echofluxx Media Art
festivals,
and Watertown, Wisconsin, the USA, with his partner-collaborator,
Caroline. Dan's work moves freely between expressive extremes and
languages depending on the aesthetic joust at hand. He is cofounder
of Roulette
Intermedium in New York
City (Brooklyn), Cascadia Composers of
Portland Oregon, and the Echofluxx
media
festivals in Prague. (read more)
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