Panayiotis KOKORAS Stone Age for cello and electronics
2022
Panayiotis Kokoras Stone Age for violoncello and electronics
Music Current Commission award 2021-22 Premiered by Ilse de Ziah
Duration 8’ 40” minutes
Denton, Texas © 2022 All Rights Reserved
Performance Notes General -
The virtuosity required for the piece may be called ‘La Virtuosité du Son’. The musician has the task to make sounds and not to play sounds. The score works rather as a manual, which instructs the performer, how to produce and manipulate the sounds required for the piece. The notation doesn’t imply necessarily the sound produced. The written note does not always correspond to the one that is sounded. The performer should follow the written note regardless of the sounding result. The change from one sound type to another should not be executed at one instance (unless indicated) but a ‘transition time’ should allow the sound to be shaped. This transition time is important and creative tool for the interpretation of the piece. Emphasis should be given on the precise production of the variable sound possibilities and the right distinction of one to another in order to be able to convey the musical ideas and structure of the piece. The compositional method as an ‘Écriture du Son’ which is based on sound-to-sound structures, on transformation strategies from one to another as well as on functional classification sound models. The significance of the diatonic interval, harmony and melody ceases to exist. The music is the sound. ***
Besides the in-score descriptions of the performance notes a complete catalogue of detailed audio/video examples is provided upon request by the composer. This is in order to give to the performer a better insight on how to produce each particular sound, which is so crucial for the piece. For detailed performance notes, please refer to the online video demonstrations. Below you will find an index of the audio/video performance notes by measure numbers. Moreover, a reference studio mix of the piece can be provided upon request. *** Violoncello INSTRUMENT PREPARATION Rasp Bow - 3d printed
The frog part (gray) consists of 5 surfaces; the bottom (black) saw surface is used to produce click, roll, pluck, glissando sounds, etc. The blue section is used to produce snap and click sounds. The rasp (green part) is also played vertical and horizontal to the strings to produce roll, rattle, rasp, and glissando sounds among others. Detune All strings should be detuned to C#. String C to C# an octave lower; G to C# diminished fifth lower; D to C# an octave and minor second lower, A to C# an octave and major third lower.
i
STAFF - Starting from top to bottom, the first section above the three lines corresponds to the area between the bridge and the fine tuners. - The second Violoncello (Vc.) section indicates the position of the bow from ST (end of fingerboard) to the bridge. The string number is shown in roman numbers I, II, III and IV. - The third section (Vc.) indicates the fingerboard area from the end to the middle. - The fourth section (Vc.) corresponds to the instrument’s first half from nut to the middle of fingerboard. - The fifth lowest cello staff section, Sound (Snd.) below the three staff lines corresponds to the neck including the pegbox and provides text descriptions and/or visualizations of the sound to be produced. The vertical axis represents frequency and the horizontal axis time. Generally, the coloring represents loudness from black for the loud frequencies to white for silence. The patterns displayed in this section provide an arbitrary visualization of the sound to be produced such as high/low, bright/dull, ordered/chaotic, coherent/erratic, smooth/coarse, soft/raspy, tonal/noisy, etc. In addition, several onomatopoetic and/or echo-mimetic words/letters aiming to represent or imitate a sound or its context such as aggressive, peaceful, mournful cry of pain, mental and physical suffering, sorrow or pleasure. - The sixth section (Sono) is a representation of the electronic part in the form of a sonogram. More details in the Electronics section.
CELLO - Sound Lexicon Video Performance Notes for Cello
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Electronics FIXED ELECTRONICS The Spectrogram below displays the frequency on the vertical axis and the time on the horizontal axis. Moreover, the colorings of grey indicate frequency loudness (from black for loud frequencies to white for silence). It works as visual representation of the tape part in order to guide/ help the performer to follow it easier and more accurately. The spectrogram aims to make it easier to discern individual musically meaningful features. At the left top corner of every staff there is a timestamp of the prerecorded material.
CLICK TRACK • Download the tape part and the click track so that you can create your DAW project. • The stereo electronic part and the amplified sax should be projected from the speakers system. • The click track file should be assigned to a separate output send to the performer's earbuds on stage.
Technical requirements for the amplification and reverberation AMPLIFICATION For the right projection of the sound details the use of amplification should be applied. The equipment required are: • Mixer • Two loudspeakers • 1 microphone with stands • Limiter / Compressor In order to amplify the soft sounds without clipping some compression should be applied. This is something that most of the digital mixers have. It is also possible by a variety of software plug-ins. NOTE: It is part of the aesthetic of the piece to create a superficial amplification, which results to the loss of the neutrality of the classical known instrumental sound. It is a microscopic point of view. REVERBERATION Reverb audio example (cello_reverb.wav) A simple Large Room mode reverb (preferable algorithmic). The numbers below are indicative and depended on the actual performance space and reverberation unit. Pre-delay: 10ms Reverb time: 1.5s Size: 100 Depth: 50% High Cut: 5200 Hz Mix: 22% wet, 78% dry
iii
Cello
Ghostly Mellow = 80
click on the saw teeth, keep touching the frog on the string and slide on left hand mutes the strings
|
Tune all strings to the lowest C Listen to audio examble
Sound
4
Snd.
w
w
Snd.
Snd.
A4
e
e
e
e
e
w
G5
C#4
C
e
w
C5
Vc.
Snd.
e
G#4
e
e
e
e
w
F4
e
e
e
e
e
e
w
e
e
e
e
frog click gliss e w e frog click gliss C5
e
e
Bb4
e
r
E3 a
e
e
e e e
e
0:30
Bb3
B
Sono
13
e
C5
w
e eee
w
F#5
w
|
e
frog click gliss
frog snap
e
press frog's first flat tooth on the string and snap down
4
w
0:19
Vc.
w
e e
e frog pluck frog click gliss w
Panayiotis Kokoras
pluck the string by pushing against the frog tooth, stays on the string
e
E4
Sono
10
frog click gliss e
Sono
I
0:09
A
4
C6
Vc.
Vc.
four beats precount
Sonogram
7
to sakpot
Stone Age
e
e
w
e
LH tap gliss
w
0:39 Sono © 2022 Panayiotis Kokoras. All Rights Reserved
2
D 16
Vc.
Snd.
frog click gliss
e
G#3
e e
e
e
e
Sono
19
Vc.
Snd.
frog pluck
0:58
E
Sono
22
Ⅱ Ⅲ
Vc.
Snd.
e
e
e
e
e
e
1:10
Sono
F
25
Vc.
Snd.
1:19
Three Pointer Tap Vc.
Snd.
poss.
4
frog snap
1:31 Sono
B4
e
e
e
frog click gliss ee ee ee B4 ee ee e
Sono
I
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
28
e
≠
frog snap
LH gliss
≠
≠
press click on saw tooth, lift off frog, let vibrate, while LH gliss
e
e
6:8
e
e
e
e
bow from string IV to I, and gliss vertically, the ridges produce a rasping sound
Ⅱ
Ⅳ
double-triple stop rasp roll gliss
{{{ {{{{{ {{{{{ {{{{{
e
frog pluck LH gliss E3 w
w
e
F3
ee
0:49
e
downbow slowly, lightly with glissando, the ridges produce a rolling sound
rasp roll gliss
e
e
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx
≠
Ⅳ
frog click e
e
e
31 Vc.
Snd.
3
mz
e
e
1:40
Sono
34
Snd.
4
Vc.
8:6
G
poss.
= = = === =
4
frog snap
LH tap
37 r Vc.
Snd.
LH tap
9:8
================
xxxx
5:4
mz
= = =
r
LH tap
= ==
1:51
Sono
r
LH tap frog snap = =
4
4
I
keep pressing the forg on the string, while tapping; string stops on the fingerboard edge
poss.
4 4 F6
LH open
5:4
LH tap
= = = =
r
3
LH tap
rasp roll gliss
===== =======
x xxxxxxxx
r
3
7:6
= ============ LH tap
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx
r
9:6
==============
xxxxxxxxx
LH tap
2:01 Sono
40 H
I Ⅱ
Vc.
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx rasp roll gliss xx
Snd.
I
Sono
43
Vc.
Snd.
==================
2:21 Sono
3
==== ================
I
=
xxxx
LH tap
==========
rasp light, slow and short
A4
xxxxxxx
rasp roll
–
6:6
LH tap
2:12
r
LH tap gliss
xxxx
=
G4
4
J 46 Vc.
press click on saw tooth,
frog click
LH gliss
I
≠
≠
Snd.
liftwhileoffLHfrog,glisslet vibrate,
≠
≠
≠
≠
≠
≠
2:31
49
Vc.
Snd.
e
≠
2:41 Sono
52
I Ⅱ Ⅲ Ⅱ
Vc.
Snd.
a
a a
a
I a
3
Ⅲ
a
≠
a
Sono
Vc.
Snd.
yyyyyyyyyyy
3:01 Sono
58 Vc.
Snd.
3:10
Sono
I
Ⅳ
2:52
55
≠
a
3
≠
yyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyy
··
poss.
rasp gliss
a D#4
Ⅲ Ⅳ
a
L
rasp roll gliss
≠
3
Ⅲ
a
slow bowing with some pressure to produce spiral groove clangs
yyyyyyyyyyyyyy
M
≠
LF pizz close to nut above bow, bow vertical slide ST to Nut, dbl-triple stop slide on plucked strings
I r Ⅱ LH pizz
yyy
angled rasping
slow bow speed, each line indicates ~ spiral groove
rasp roll gliss
K
Sono
I Ⅱ
medium speed bowing produce granular sound
mz
rasp roll gliss LH tap
xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
5 61 Vc.
Snd.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3:21
Sono
64 Vc.
Snd.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x x x x
xx
x x x x x x x x
x x x x
3:30
Iberian Tweet Fantasy
Sono
67 Vc.
Snd.
thumb mutes the string bow on the forg
I frog click tweet B6
3:40 Sono
70 Vc.
Snd.
!!
!!!!!!!!!!!
frog click gliss tweet
B6
3:51 Sono
73 Vc.
Snd.
!!!!
frog click e
B6
4:00 Sono
xxxxxxx
slow bow speed, each 16th indicates ~ spiral groove click
xxx xxx x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
frog pluck w frog click tweet !!!!!
frog pluck w frog click tweet !!!!
!!!!!! ! ! !
frog click gliss tweet
!!!!!!!!
6 I Ⅱ
76
Vc.
Snd.
I
!!!!!!!!!!!!
cc rasp roll toad
B6
frog click tweet
!!!!!! ! ! !
I Ⅱ
cc rasp roll toad
frog click gliss tweet
4:09 Sono
79 Vc.
cc
Snd.
!!!
!!!!!
!!!
!!!
cc rasp roll toad
4:18 Sono
82
Vc.
frog click gliss tweet
!!!!!!!
Snd.
!!!!!! ! ! !
frog click gliss tweet
frog pluck w
!!!!!
cc rasp roll toad
4:27 Sono
85 Vc.
Snd.
N
!!!!!
frog pluck w
!!!!!
w
cc rasp roll toad
cc
frog click e
B6
6
frog click
! !!!!
e
!!
frog click tweet
4:36 Sono
88 Vc.
e
Snd. 4:45 Sono
6
!!
6
e
!!
!!
!!
!!!!
!!!
!!!!!!!!
frog click gliss tweet
O
91
Vc.
frog click tweet
Snd.
B6
!!!!!!!!!
mz
!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! !
4:54
94
Vc.
Snd.
5:03
Sono
97 Vc.
! !!! !! ! ! !
frog click
! ! !!!!! ! ! ! ! !
!
!
!
frog click gliss
!!!!!!!
B6
!!
Snd.
frog click gliss tweet
Sono
7
Firelight Bird
I Ⅱ
poss.
frog click
I
5
!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxx
5:13
rasp roll
P Ⅱ Ⅲ
rasp trem gliss LH gliss
z z z z z z zzzzzz
zzzzz
Sono
100
Q
Vc.
zzzzzzzzzzzz
Snd.
5:28
103
Sono
Vc.
Snd.
5:34 Sono
Ⅱ Ⅲ
rasp trem gliss LH gliss
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzz z z zz zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
R
Ⅱ Ⅲ
rasp trem gliss LH gliss
z
LH open/mute string
zzzzzzzz orch hit 4 zzz z z z z z zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz
8
S
106 Vc.
Ⅲ Ⅳ
œœ
LH gliss
bow both vertically and horizontally
...
bow from string IV to I, gliss vertically
Ⅳ
zz angled rasping zz zz z z z zzz z z zz zz zz zzz zzzz zzzz zzzz z z z z z zzz z zz zz z z z zzzzzzz z z z z z z z z z zz zz
Snd.
5:43
T
Sono
109
I œœ I Ⅱ
LH open/mute string
LH gliss
up and down bow, with some pressure, produce rattling sound
U
wwwwwwwww zz orch hit wwwwwwwww 4 orch hit wwwwwwzz 4 rasp rattling gliss
Snd.
œœ
Ⅱ Ⅲ
3
3
3
wwwwwwwww 4 wwwwwwwww wwwww orch hit zz
Vc.
8:6
5:54
V
112 Vc.
Ⅱ Ⅲ
W œœ
!!!!!ww
Snd. frog click
wwwwwwwwwwww
rasp rattling gliss
6:06 Sono
115 Vc.
Snd.
5
Snd.
wwwwwwwwwwww
Ⅱ Ⅲ
orch hit
5
5
5
g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g bow tap
X
Ⅱ I
rasp rattling gliss zzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
z zzzzzz4 g zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz orch hit w
Ⅲ
4
ww
LH open/mute string
rasp rattling gliss
Ⅱ hit strings and fingerboard with the bow as you gliss lower
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 4 orch hit zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
6:25 Sono
¿ 5
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿¿ ¿¿ ¿ ¿¿ ¿
6:15
Vc.
5
g g gg g g g gg g g g g g gg g gg g
Sono
118
5
wwwwwwwwwwww
zz
Sono
Ⅲ Ⅱ
z zzzz rasp rattling gliss
121
zz
Vc.
Snd.
orch hit
7:6
Y
drop the bow; move fast and sharp; press down all strings and glis; let the strings vibrate
Ⅱ Ⅲ
œœœœ
I Ⅳ LH gliss
drop gliss d d
w orch hit w4 wwrattling rasp gliss
4
bow drop
d
d
d d
d
d
d
Z
9:8
œœ œœ
d
d
d
d
d d
d
d
d
d
6:35
7:6 Fan bow drop 3 AA 3 6 Flatspot 124 œ Ⅱœ Ⅲ œœœ œœœ œœœœ Vc. I Ⅱ Ⅱ Ⅲ LH gliss œœ œœ rasp roll rasp roll d bow drop drop gliss d d d d dd CC d d d Snd. d d C d d q C d d q d d drop gliss doppler gesture doppler gesture
Sono
6:44
Sono
BB
127 Vc.
7:6 CC
Snd.
I Ⅱ
œœ œœ d
d
d
d
d
d
d
rasp roll
CC
q
doppler gesture
3 ⅡⅢ œœœœ LH gliss bow drop
drop gliss d d
DD
I Ⅱœœœ
130 Vc.
ⅡⅢ œœœœ LH gliss bow drop
3
drop gliss d d
Snd.
œ I Ⅱœ œ
d
d
rasp roll
rasp roll
Cq C
Cq C
doppler gesture
7:06 Sono
133
œœ œ
Snd.
C q
Vc.
7:16 Sono
œœ œ
CqC
yy
Ⅱ Ⅲ
œœœ
CqC
d
rasp roll
CC d qgesture doppler
Ⅱ Ⅲ œœœ
d
CC
q
d
doppler gesture
I œœ Ⅱœ
rasp roll
doppler gesture
d
rasp roll
d
6:56 Sono
bounce
C C q
C doppler gesture
yyyy
C
y y
IⅡ œœœ C
9
10 136 Vc.
Snd.
I œœœ
yyy
bow from string I to IV; hold
I Ⅱ œœœ
FF
Snd.
yyy CC
q
CC
q
7:26
Vc.
Ⅱ Ⅲ œœœ
C C yyy
qC
Sono
139
down all strings; let vibrate Ⅳ
EE
q
Ⅲ Ⅳ œœœ
œœœ
mz
rasp roll
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx CC q y y y CqC
7:36
GG
Sono
142
Vc.
I Ⅱ
œœœ
y y C
Snd.
ⅡⅢ œœœ
CC q
qC yyyy
Ⅳ Ⅲ
HH
Sono
Vc.
Snd.
mz
7:57
Vc.
Snd.
angled rasping
Ⅳ
rasp roll LH pizz xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x x x x x x
f
Sono
148
Ⅳ Ⅲ
bow both on the fingerboard corner and string IV
xx x
x
x
x
Ⅳ
mz
x
x
crosshands; LH taps below bow; bow slowly
rasp rattling
xx x x x x xx x x x x x x x x
II
Ⅲ Ⅳ 8:07
LH tap rasp roll
x
x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x xx x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x
Sono
œ œœ
xxxxxx xx x x x x CC q
7:46
Sultry Wagon 145
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JJ
151 Vc.
Snd.
angled rasping
Ⅳ
yyyyyyyyy
11
bow both on the fingerboard corner and string IV
rasp rattling
yyy yyy xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxyy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
8:16 Sono
154 Vc.
Snd.
KK
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
rasp roll
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
8:25 Sono
bow very close to the nut on IV string produce a bright rolling sound