Isaac Raymond
Full Score
IndifferenceSmithforThreePerformers(2022)
(probably porcelain or glass)
Performer 1
Bluetooth
Pen that clicks
Written for the 2022 S! Percussion Summer Institute
2PerformerCashHeadphonesspeakerfortip3emptycoffeemugs
Indifference
or pitcher filled most of the way (use room temperature water so it is easier to drink quickly)
Portable table (preferably metal if possible). This is separate from table used by Person 1 and Person 2.
Metal butter knife and metal spoon
Metal Smartphonechair/barstoolthathas Bluetooth capabilities
Plastic disposable water bottle that is almost empty
MetalKeys chair/barstool
Cash for WaterPerformertip2carafe
To go paper cup filled with coffee or another drink (includes plastic lid and cardboard sleeve)
Metal Smartphonechair/barstoolthathas Bluetooth capabilities
Clear cup for drinking water
Handful of coins
Instrumentation:
Table from coffee shop or small folding table
Bluetooth speaker
Backpack with multiple zippers
Table from coffee shop or small folding table (use same one as Performer 1)
Metal water bottle
Large ride cymbal or crash cymbal on stand
Coffee percolator or Keurig machine in a separate carrying bag
Notes on the Score:
Duration: 5 minutes
Events occur from top to bottom, with each performer’s instructions separated by a thick black line. Timecodes indicate approximately when each event should happen, but performing with a stopwatch is not necessary. While the timecodes need not be exact, the order in which each event happens should be followed strictly. If possible, try to perform the piece from memory. This will help the piece fit in with its surroundings and seem less like a formal musical performance, which is the desire of the composer. Any questions on setup or intentions should be directed to isaacrsmithmusic@gmail.com.
Performer 2 should fill a pitcher or carafe with room temperature water before the performance begins. They should hold this in one hand and hold a clear plastic drinking cup in their other hand to start the performance. Performer 2 should have their phone and some cash in their pocket so that both are easily accessible, and should have headphones draped around their neck so they are easy to put on midway through the performance.
Smith Indifference Performance Notes ii
Program Notes: Ignorance Ignoring is bliss (?)
Performer 3 should first obtain a backpack or messenger bag that has multiple zippers on it. Into this bag they should place the metal butter knife, the metal spoon, the metal water bottle, the pen, and the plastic water bottle. Try to position the items so that they don’t clank together when walking with the bag. They should also place the percolator/coffee machine in a separate bag slung around their shoulder. Second, they should obtain a handful of coins and place them in their pocket so they are easy to access. Next, set up the cymbal on the stand either backstage or off to the side of the stage where it is less visible to the audience. Finally, grab the two coffee mugs, holding one in each hand, and put on the backpack/messenger bag. Performer 3 should also have their keys in their pocket so that they are easily accessible.
Setup Instructions: Set the two tables described in the “Instrumentation” section somewhat close to each other, but with enough room in between the tables that you can still walk in between them comfortably. The metal table farther from the audience than the folding table. There should be. Performers 1 and 2 should pair their Bluetooth speakers with their phones, then place the speakers out in the audience. The exact locations of the speakers does not matter, but they should be spread out at a good distance so you can “surround” the audience with sounds.
Performer 1 should buy a coffee and have it in a to go cup before the performance begins. It is recommended that the cup is not full nor fully hot when the performance begins so that it is easier to finish the drink during the first four minutes of the piece. Performer 1 should also have their phone and some cash in their pocket so that both are easily accessible.
Phone Sounds:
Performers 1 and 2 are asked to play a series of sounds on their phones to sound from the Bluetooth speakers placed throughout the audience. These sounds can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18_J1rDC-FU_gPel8ReLPriNdYB7EVZ2?usp=sharing.It is recommended that each performer download these sounds to their phone to avoid relying too heavily on Internet connection and buffering.
Smith Indifference Performance Notesiii
Time Performer 3
0:00 With your coffee in a paper to go cup, slowly approach the front table from stage left.
0:28 Somewhat aggressively, set down mugs on table
0:15 Continue scrolling on phone while drinking coffee. Drink at a rapid rate so you can finish your drink within a few minutes.
0:28 Continue scrolling on phone while drinking water. Ignore any sounds made by Performer 3.
Time Performer 2
0:25 Quickly approach back table from stage left carrying 2 coffee mugs
0:25 Pour water from pitcher into cup until full. Set pitcher and cup on table and pull phone out of pocket. Begin scrolling as if reading the news/social media.
0:10 Set down coffee on table and pull phone out of pocket. Begin scrolling as if reading the news/social media.
Isaac Raymond Smith
0:00
Full Score Written for the 2022 So Percussion Summer Institute
Indifference
0:20 Pull out chair on stage right so that it makes a scraping sound on floor, then sit down.
0:00
0:05 Pull out chair on stage left so that it makes a scraping sound on floor, then sit down.
0:30 Pull keys out of pocket and throw those down on table as well.
1 Any use of the word “pitcher” can be replaced with “carafe” or any other sensible container for liquid throughout this score.
0:28 Ignore any sounds made by Performer 3.
Copyright © 2022 Isaac R. Smith Music
Time Performer 1
0:15 Slowly approach front table from stage right carrying a water pitcher1 and a clear cup for drinking.
2:20 Grab metal water bottle and walk up to Performer 2. Tap their shoulder/tug onPlay “Sound 4” on your phone.
1:30 Play “Sound 2” on your phone.
2:00 Drop both spoon and knife onto table so that they make a loud clang.
2:10 Play “Sound 1” on your phone.
1:00 Play “Sound 1” from Bluetooth speaker placed somewhere in the room and paired with your phone.
0:32 As piece progresses, continue to drink coffee, scroll on phone, and ignore Performers 2 and 3. Instructions to play various sounds from your phone should be brief interruptions, and you should return to drinking coffee, scrolling on phone, and ignoring performers immediately after playing the sounds.
0:35 Take off backpack and work through the different zippers on the bag, zipping/unzipping them as if you can’t remember which pocket something is in. Set bag with coffee machine off to the side.
0:45 Remove metal water bottle from backpack and set down aggressively on table, then remove metal butter knife and metal spoon and drop them on table as well.
2:03 Suddenly stand up and loudly pull out chair across floor.
Smith Indifference2
2:00 Play “Sound 3” on your phone.
2:06 Loudly push chair back in.
0:32 As piece progresses, continue to drink water until glass is empty, then immediately fill the glass again with water from the pitcher. Drink at a rapid rate so you can empty the pitcher within a few minutes. Continue to scroll on phone and continue to ignore Performers 1 and 3.
0:32 Pull out chair behind table so that it makes a scraping sound on floor, then sit down.
2:10 Continue pulling chair out then pushing it in again. Act as if you can’t decide whether to sit or stand, using slow, deliberate motions.
0:45 Play “Sound 5” from Bluetooth speaker placed somewhere in the room and paired with your phone. Immediately continue scrolling, drinking water, and ignoring Performers 1 and 3.
0:50 Pick up knife in right hand and spoon in left hand. Strike lip of mugs one at a time with knife, and strike side of water bottle with spoon. Start sparse and gradually speed up rhythm to be more and more obnoxious. Dynamics should increase as rhythm speeds up. Occasionally, take a few coins out of pocket and bounce them on the table in front of you, trying to get the attention of Performers 1 and 2.
2:37 Pull out headphones and put them on to block out any future disturbances. Continue to drink water and scroll on phone.
3:15 Improvise by switching between playing Sounds 1, 2, 3, and 4. Switch up the order in which you play them and how long you wait in between triggering the sounds. Do not change your demeanor at all throughout this improvisation, and continue to drink your coffee while ignoring the other Performers.
4:10 Finish off last glass of water so that the pitcher is now completely empty.
2:32 Use a combination of obvious gestures and words to ask if you can use Performer 2’s pitcher to fill up your water bottle.
3:15 Actively look at Performers 1 and 2 and attempt to get their attention by making loud, obnoxious sounds using combinations of the pens, silverware, zippers, keys, mugs, metal water bottle, coffee machine, and chair. You can create any sound you like with these objects and perform them in any sequence, but you should create an almost constant stream of metallic sounds with sharp transients. All sounds should be as aggressive and loud as you can make them.
4:10 Give up making metal sounds and suddenly stand up from table, pushing in your chair and scraping it across the
2:50 Begin clicking pen by aggressively hitting clicker on table. Begin at slow, deliberate pace, and gradually speed up speed of clicking.
2:37 Sadly return to back table.
2:35 Use a combination of obvious gestures and words to rudely refuse Performer 3’s request.
Smith Indifference
their shirt until they finally acknowledge you.
2:30
2:55 While still clicking pen, grab spoon and resume striking rims of coffee mugs. Explore different polyrhythms created between the pen clicking and mug striking and speed up frequency of both sounds.
2:45 Play “Sound 1” on your phone.
3
2:30 After Performer 3 finally gets your attention, acknowledge them with an irritated look.
2:45 Reach into backpack and grab pen. Grab coffee machine/percolator out of bag and aggressively set down on the table.
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4:25 Put phone back in pocket. Remove cash for tip and set on table.
4:50 Exit stage without acknowledging the audience as if nothing out of the ordinary has occurred.
4:55 Dispose of empty coffee cup into water pitcher that Performer 2 has emptied.
4:40 Zip up backpack, and sling over shoulders. Place coffee machine back in separate bag and sling over shoulder. Drink what is left of the water in the plastic bottle, then crush the bottle and dispose of it into the water pitcher that Performer 2 has emptied.
4:25 Return to back table
4:30 Remove plastic water bottle from backpack and set on table. Place metal water bottle, silverware, and pen back into backpack. Return keys to pocket.
floor. Walk over to where a cymbal on a stand has been previously hidden and grab the stand.
4:20 Move the cymbal/stand across the room and set it down very close to Performer 1.
4:30 Exit stage (still wearing headphones) without acknowledging the audience as if nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. As you push your chair out/in, scrape it along the floor.
4:50 Put phone back in pocket. Remove cash for tip and set on table.
5:00 Exit stage without acknowledging the audience as if nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. As you push your chair out/in, scrape it along the floor.