Assemble for solo percussion and electronics (2016)

Instrumentation:

Percussion, Electronics (one performer)

Duration: ca. 10’

About the piece:

Assemble explores the concepts of randomisation and indeterminacy in a piece written for solo percussion and electronics. A part of the piece allows the performer to play a role in the construction of the piece - this accounts for the uniqueness every time this piece is performed. Randomisation is seen in some aspects of the electronics (playback and panning), while indeterminacy shows in the freedom of choice of the order and selection of musical motifs. The overall structure is fixed.​

Another aspect of the piece explores uncertainty and the masking of sources of sound. Throughout the piece, phrases played by the performer are recorded (live and pre-recorded) and randomly played back while the performer is playing. The sounds are slightly processed. This gives the listeners the illusion of many things playing at once and it is uncertain whether the sounds are real or electronic. As the piece progresses, the playback grows in intensity up to the point where there is a mass of sound present.

First performance: 

November 2016, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore

Performed by:

Max Riefer (percussion & electronics)