Blodgett (Robert Stokowy)

• Text-based score for ensemble by Robert Stokowy, 2019

• Commissioned version for Electronic Orchestra Charlottenburg

BLODGETT IS A TEXT-BASED SCORE FOR ENSEMBLE. THE PIECE IS TO BE PERFORMED IN A PURELY SONIC BUT NOT MUSICAL MANNER. ALL INTUITIVE IDEAS OF PITCH, RHYTHM, CHORD PROGRESSION AND OTHER TRADITIONAL TRAINING ARE TO BE LEFT OUT. THIS PIECE IS FOCUSSING ON NOTIONS OF MINIMALISM AND A RADICAL REDUCTION OF PERFORMATIVE MEANS. ACCORDING TO THE SCORE, EACH WORD, EACH CONNECTION OF WORDS, EACH LINE AND THE PIECE AS A WHOLE HOLD VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE PIECE SOUNDS. THE PERFORMERS ARE ASKED TO USE THE TEXT IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPOSER’S NOTES AND TIMELINE TO PLAY THE PIECE. INSTEAD OF USING SPECIFIC MUSICAL NOTE VALUES, THE PERFORMERS CAN USE THEIR SUBJECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXT. THIS ALSO REQUIRES AN IN-DEPTH INTERACTION & REFLECTION WITH/OF THE TEXT. THE PIECE IS TO BE PERFORMED QUIET (ppp - mf) EVEN IF THE AUDIENCE IS NOISY, REMAIN SUBTLE AND QUIET; SUBTLETY IS KEY; LET GO OF ANY INDIVIDUAL INTENTION TO ADD MORE; THERE ARE NO SOLOS AND NO TUTTIS; NEGATIVE SPACE IS A MAIN MOTIF (TIME-WISE & SONICALLY); LET GO OF ANY MUSICAL TRADITION OR INTENTIONALITY, THIS PIECE IS A ANTI-STATEMENT TO THE INSTITUTIONAL IDEA OF ERNSTE MUSIK. INSTEAD OF PRODUCING A FULL AND STABLE SOUND YOU ARE ASKED TO REDUCE YOUR OWN CONTRIBUTION RADICALLY. THAT IS, USE YOUR INSTRUMENT TO MERELY PRODUCE FRAGILE FRAGMENTS (BARELY ABLE TO EXIST ON THEIR OWN), SONIC CHARACTERISTICS THAT MERGE WITH THE SOUND-FRAGMENTS PRODUCED BY OTHERS. TOGETHER YOU FORM SOUNDS AND THE SONIC STRUCTURAL NARRATIVE OF THIS PIECE. DON’T BE AFRAID OF NEGATIVE SPACE AND MINIMAL ACTION. TOGETHER THEY BECOME MORE MEANINGFUL & SIGNIFICANT, THE MORE YOU DARE TO REDUCE THEM. (From the score)