Manhattan Circus

Davies, Maxwell; Nash, Chris

Abstract

Collaboration is an interesting endeavour! Particularly when it involves examining and subsequently articulating aspects of one’s compositional process that can then be expressed as computer code and then realised by software through collaboration.

This work is very much an experiment to explore the potential of a computer program and an instrumentalist playing together in ensemble. As with much of my recent work, including Tiny Symphony and The Way of Things, the pitch material is derived from the circumstances surrounding the piece. In this case, the central pitches are E – A – D – B, which is all the translatable pitch material from the word MANHATTAN. I then used several algorithms of my own making to proliferate both the pitch and rhythmic material according to specifically designed rules. The harmonic material is, again as with much of my recent work, based on triads with added sevenths. The structure is pre-chosen and fixed.

Once this ‘road map’ was in place – the chord sequence generated following specific rules related to the pitch and rhythmic material, and within a fixed structure of four contrasting sections – and translated into code within the Manhattan environment, it was then possible to manipulate and, where appropriate, randomise various musical parameters. This results in similar but never identical versions between performances.

The purpose of such an experiment, for me, was to explore the complementary differences in capability and execution between humans and technology, rather than mimicry.

Performance History:
• 13/05/2017 Manhattan Circus (2017) for piano and software, Neil Georgeson (piano) and Chris Nash (coder), Arcomis Contemporary Lunchtime Concert, St David’s Hall, Cardiff
• 12/05/2017 Manhattan Circus (2017) for piano and software, Neil Georgeson (piano) and Chris Nash (coder), Arcomis Masterclass with the composer, Centre for Performing Arts, UWE Bristol

• Other Type: Composition
• Publication Date: May 12, 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 10, 2022
• Keywords: Music composition, Music performance, Musical Arrangement, Piano
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10132432
• Related Public URLs: https://youtu.be/V_lSSFL2heI; ; http://www.maxcharlesdavies.com
• Additional Information: https://youtu.be/V_lSSFL2heI