Amplitude
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Bandcamp recording.
Amplitude was recorded commercially for the Sideband: The In-Between CD project. Use the player to preview and purchase the recording. Performed by Brad Gill. |
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YouTube video of the entire performance.
Percussionist Brad Gill performing Amplitude at the inaugural Sideband Concert. November 27 2014 at the Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. |
Buy the Score
Programme Note
Amplitude for vibraphone, tam tam and pre-recorded electronics was originally written in conjunction with composer-percussionist Brad Gill and first performed by Claire Edwardes. It is entirely based on the physical-acoustic properties of various pre-recorded tam tam sounds that form the basis of the work’s electronic component. These are predominantly bowed tam tam sounds where various pitches of the instrument emerge and are amplified by bowing and dampening in various positions.
The electronic component is also metaphorically amplified by the live component of the work. Each tam tam sound used is subjected to acoustic analysis with the partials present in each forming the basis of the pitch material used in the vibraphone. This pitch material is also used to create synthetic sounds that closely imitate the original tam tam sounds. These components combined work together to synthesise new tone colours.
Amplitude begins with ethereal and highly processed sounds in the electronics that are re-enforced by similar tone colours in the vibraphone such as bowed and sporadic vibrato pitches. The textures gradually become more active and begin to merge into the work’s second section where the pre-recorded tam tam sounds are introduced. These are developed by utilising tone colour contrasts in the live component such as wire brushes, buzzing and rattling sounds and delay sounds in the electronics that are re-enforced in the vibraphone by bouncing a chopstick on the resonating bars.
The development then proceeds to a climactic section emphasised mostly by tam tam tremoli and harsh processed electronic sounds that culminates with a synthesised tam tam sonority in the electronics. The work’s finale then unfolds as a short recapitulation of the opening, but in contrast the directional placement of the sounds shifts continually to deceive the listener from where the sound is emanating.
An article discussing this work can be found here.
Instrumentation: Vibraphone & Tam Tam (1 performer) & pre-recorded electronics (stereo CD [click track available])
Performances of this work:
8 Dec 2018: at the Australasian Computer Music Conference, Enright Studio, Edith Cowan University, Perth. Decibel concert featuring Louise Devenish.
4 Nov 2016: at Sideband: the In-Between, The Red Rattler, Sydney. Featuring Brad Gill.
30 Sep 2015: at Sideband: Trails in the Sky, The Old Darlington School, Sydney University. Featuring Brad Gill.
26 Mar 2015: at Sideband #2, Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring Brad Gill.
25 Mar 2015: at Faculty Artist Recital, Redfern Arts Centre, Keene, USA. Featuring Christopher Swist.
27 Nov 2014: at Sideband, Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring Brad Gill.
16 Nov 2013: at FINÉ, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney. Featuring Claire Edwardes.
Programme Note
Amplitude for vibraphone, tam tam and pre-recorded electronics was originally written in conjunction with composer-percussionist Brad Gill and first performed by Claire Edwardes. It is entirely based on the physical-acoustic properties of various pre-recorded tam tam sounds that form the basis of the work’s electronic component. These are predominantly bowed tam tam sounds where various pitches of the instrument emerge and are amplified by bowing and dampening in various positions.
The electronic component is also metaphorically amplified by the live component of the work. Each tam tam sound used is subjected to acoustic analysis with the partials present in each forming the basis of the pitch material used in the vibraphone. This pitch material is also used to create synthetic sounds that closely imitate the original tam tam sounds. These components combined work together to synthesise new tone colours.
Amplitude begins with ethereal and highly processed sounds in the electronics that are re-enforced by similar tone colours in the vibraphone such as bowed and sporadic vibrato pitches. The textures gradually become more active and begin to merge into the work’s second section where the pre-recorded tam tam sounds are introduced. These are developed by utilising tone colour contrasts in the live component such as wire brushes, buzzing and rattling sounds and delay sounds in the electronics that are re-enforced in the vibraphone by bouncing a chopstick on the resonating bars.
The development then proceeds to a climactic section emphasised mostly by tam tam tremoli and harsh processed electronic sounds that culminates with a synthesised tam tam sonority in the electronics. The work’s finale then unfolds as a short recapitulation of the opening, but in contrast the directional placement of the sounds shifts continually to deceive the listener from where the sound is emanating.
An article discussing this work can be found here.
Instrumentation: Vibraphone & Tam Tam (1 performer) & pre-recorded electronics (stereo CD [click track available])
Performances of this work:
8 Dec 2018: at the Australasian Computer Music Conference, Enright Studio, Edith Cowan University, Perth. Decibel concert featuring Louise Devenish.
4 Nov 2016: at Sideband: the In-Between, The Red Rattler, Sydney. Featuring Brad Gill.
30 Sep 2015: at Sideband: Trails in the Sky, The Old Darlington School, Sydney University. Featuring Brad Gill.
26 Mar 2015: at Sideband #2, Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring Brad Gill.
25 Mar 2015: at Faculty Artist Recital, Redfern Arts Centre, Keene, USA. Featuring Christopher Swist.
27 Nov 2014: at Sideband, Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring Brad Gill.
16 Nov 2013: at FINÉ, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney. Featuring Claire Edwardes.