Ian Whillock - from fields to skies - perusal score

from fields to skies for bass drum and electronics

Ian Whillock (2020)

Š 2020 ianwhillockmusic

from fields to skies

program note

from fields to skies was commissioned by George Warner and written for collaboration with animator Chase Mack. The fixed audio contains sounds collected from a variety of places throughout the US: from South Dakota all the way to Texas and various locations in-between. In addition to the bass drum, the performer uses various household items and custom instruments to blend with these sounds in interesting ways.

performance note A sound diffusionist is needed to balance the fixed audio with the live performer. The blend should be nearly indistinguishable.

The speakers should not be too far from the performer, as to maintain this sense of blend.

equipment requirements electronics • audio interface with at least 3 multichannel outputs • two stereo speakers • distortion pedal (for custom wood instrument) instruments and preparations • custom built scrap wood instrument (visit ianwhillockmusic.com/tutorials for instructions) - this is plugged into the distortion pedal. should have a dark, highly distorted tone • heavy-weighted paper, like construction paper or a small brown paper bag • crumpled aluminum foil attatched to bass drum • kick drum or marching bass drum. tuned low and heavily dampend to be extremely punchy. mallets • piccolo tip snare sticks • wire brushes • hard felt mallet • heavy snare sticks

notation guide bass drum skin

/

œ

on shell

¿

on rim w/ shaft of stick

¿

crumple paper and rub on plywood

rub wire brush on foil

stage plot

cable routing

player

audio interface

in 1

spk. L spk. R click

plywood instrument

speaker R

speaker L

computer

out 1 out 2 out 3

aluminum foil

plywood instrument distortion pedal

in your DAW, route the tracks to the following:

bass drum

fixed audio: stereo out (out 1 & 2) click track: out 3 plywood instrument: stereo out (out 1 & 2)

audience instrument setup

techniques

crumpled foil attatched to bass drum

on rim with shaft of stick

plywood instrument with contact mic for building instructions visit ianwhillockmusic.com/tutorials

on bass drum shell

from fields to skies for George Warner

Ian Whilllock piccolo tip sticks on bass drum shell sustained multiple-bounce roll

q=90

U ∑

x /x

bass drum

 

metronome cue

œ

Œ

œ

Œ

5

œ

œ

!

5

¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z

œ œ œ œ

pp under electronics

electronics

8

5

! ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z ¿z

5

9:8

z z z z z z z z z z / ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿

pp non cresc.

A q=180

gradual shift to double stroke roll

! ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ ¿æ double stroke roll 9:8

poco rit.

/ R¿ R¿ L¿ L¿ R¿ R¿ L¿ L¿

!

pp

q=175

/ R¿ R¿ L¿ L¿ R¿ R¿ L¿ L¿

21

poco rit.

q=165

!