honeycombs performance notes
TRANSCRIPT
Robert Dahm
in the honeycombs of memory he built a house for the swarm of his thoughts
for ensemble
(2011)
INSTRUMENTATION
oboe bass clarinet in Bb
horn in F trumpet in C trombone
violin viola contrabass
mutes
All brass players are to play with practice (‘whispa’) mutes throughout.
All string players are to play with practice mutes throughout (wood, if possible, although failing this, as uniform a material as possible across the three instruments)
string scordatura
Violin is tuned a tone lower (i.e. F-‐C-‐G-‐D)
Contrabass is tuned a tone higher (i.e. F#-‐B-‐E-‐A)
The contrabass part is written for an instrument with C-‐extension (which, tuned up a tone, will be a sounding D).
SEATING PLAN
The primary considerations in determining a seating plan are eye contact, volume (or, rather, lack thereof) and sonic separation (or, rather, lack thereof). The sound profile for this piece should be that of an extremely dense (although extremely quiet) ‘knot’ of sound, and any seating plan that contributes to this image is acceptable. Regardless, it is absolutely vital that all players be able to see each other. The following is a suggestion only:
oboe bass clarinet
horn violin
trumpet viola
trombone contrabass
conductor
It is also possible to experiment with the ensemble facing the rear of the stage, to decrease the directness of sound reaching the audience.
TEMPORAL SCHEME
Metre
The work employs an extended vocabulary of time signatures, using denominators beyond simply the standard binary (2, 4, 8, 16…) divisions of the whole note. The fundamental underlying logic is, however, the same – i.e. the whole note is divided into a number of beats equal to the bottom number of the time signature. Thus, 3/14 is a bar consisting of three septuplet eighth-‐notes, 4/12 is four triplet eighth-‐notes, etc.
Tempo
The tempo indications are quite specific, and are based on proportional relationships. Due to the nature of the coloured rhythmic layers (see below), it is vital that, if the starting tempo is raised or lowered, that these proportional relationships be maintained.
The written tempo always pertains to a standard eighth-‐note, and not to the ‘altered’ eighth of the bar in which the tempo change occurs.
Rhythmic notation
Due to the large variety of non-‐standard noteheads employed in the piece, only ‘closed-‐head’ rhythmic values are employed. There are no durations notated longer than a dotted quarter-‐note.
Rhythmic events occur only where a notehead, articulation, ornament, or other specific notated event specifies. A stem with no event attached to it does not imply a re-‐articulation, but rather a continuation of the previous state. This should hopefully be clear from context.
Coloured layers
The piece employs a variety of colours, delineating multiple strands of temporal activity.
The standard black layer represents a normal approach to musical time. That is, the highly corrugated metric scheme, tempo changes, rall. and accel. markings, etc, all apply as normal. The beat provided by the conductor (and the click-‐track supplied for learning purposes) articulates this black layer.
The coloured layers operate by isolating a particular duration in chronometric space (defined by a starting and ending point in reference to the black layer) and dividing that total time (incorporating all metre and tempo changes) into precisely equal parts. The coloured layers therefore do not exhibit any change of pulse density within them, but their total duration is in part defined by the changes in pulse density in the black layer. Red, blue and green layers operate identically, and are coloured differently purely for ease of coordination in rehearsal.
The score is quite precisely time-‐spaced (at approximately 20mm/second), allowing players, in the process of learning the piece, to put these layers together visually, by placing impulses against the black layer.
This approach has limitations. Notably, the accelerandi and rallentandi are calculated arithmetically, rather than logarithmically, so won’t be precisely the same as a ‘humanly’-‐performed alteration in speed. Secondly, the scale is of insufficient resolution to allow for fine gradations in time to be made by eye alone.
Therefore, as the piece starts to consolidate in rehearsal, these layers should start to be ‘felt’ as their own, intrinsically valid, strata of musical activity. The principal concern in terms of their audibility is their periodicity – that is, their sense of constituting an ‘alternative’ pulse. There should, as much as possible, be an audible ‘gear shift’ between the various temporal layers.
Where multiple instruments are articulating a given coloured layer, the parts indicate which. It is envisioned that in these contexts, one player will need to ‘lead’ that layer (as a kind of secondary conductor).
Where a single part (as throughout the majority of the piece) contains multiple temporal layers, these should be treated as completely separate objects, mutually interfering. This can be achieve through a stratification of approaches to articulation, tone, or (minimal) dynamic alterations.
Any material belonging only to a particular layer (typically a rest, explicitly stating that nothing happens in that layer at that time) is notated in square brackets.
It is worth noting that there are frequent instances in which the multitude of different rhythmic lines will not be audible as such in performance, either because the sheer density of impulses prevents their auditory differentiation (as in, for example, the opening sections); or because too many strata are applied to a single line (as in the solo moments for viola, bass clarinet and horn towards the centre of the piece), resulting in a sense of complex, pseudo-‐arhythmic monophony.
Interruption vs superimposition
Most parts contain multiple rhythmic strata at any given time. The following should be observed:
Played pitches and rests always interrupt one another. It is never intended that a player should attempt to play two notes simultaneously. The exception is string instruments where the player may opt to play a double stop rather than a monophonic line where this makes musical (and physical) sense. The basic position is that all lines are monophonic. Anything else is optional elaboration. In some instances, where numerous such interruptions occur, these patterns of interference are clarified through the use of solid and dotted lines (see, for instance, section 13).
All other materials (ornaments, sung pitches, articulations, etc) are superimposed on top of other material. Some of these will have an extreme (at times devastating) effect of the notated material underneath, but are never envisaged as replacing that material.
Sections
The piece comprises thirty separately-‐numbered sections. These should be more distinct than rehearsal numbers, but less distinct than separate movements. To draw an analogy to the visual arts, they function more as multiple panels in a triptych, or else as multiple elements in an installation. Musical materials in this piece are, however, so smeared as to (almost without exception) cross sectional boundaries. They bleed into one another.
Where no instruction is provided, the conductor may determine whether sections are to be played attacca, or whether there shall be a short break. Ideally, breaks between sections should be no longer than four seconds in length (although this may need to be extended to facilitate page turns, particularly in the denser tutti passages), during which all players should remain still, tense and focussed. Musical lines of force extending from the previous section should be held, as if ready to continue. As if an implied vanishing point is located somewhere off the canvas. The effect should be one of hitting ‘pause’ on a CD, and then resuming again, rather than one track finishing, and the next starting.
PITCH
Microtones
There are two different types of microtones in the piece – tempered quartertones and untempered microtonal inflections:
1. Quartertones reflect an equal-‐tempered 24-‐note division of the octave. These should be achieved, where possible, through special fingerings. Further comments on their application in the brass parts can be found in the sections pertaining to those instruments below.
2. Accidentals with an upwards-‐ or downwards-‐pointing arrow indicate a small microtonal inflection (smaller than a quarter-‐tone, but not necessarily tempered) in the direction of the arrow. This should ordinarily be achieved through an embouchure deviation (in the winds) or a minor fingering inflection (in the strings).
Graphic pitch notation
In some contexts, certain types of pitch content are notated graphically through the use of lines. In all instances, the line describes a general impression of the pitch contour. These pitch contours may be achieved through embouchure, tongue or breath alterations, or a combination of all three. Depending on what else is going on, the result may be harmonic or inharmonic, or result in a multiphonic.
Two specific cases are worth mentioning:
The first commences at section 15, where the entire pitch content of the bass clarinet part is notated graphically. The treble clef is maintained, however, as the staff provides an approximate reference point for the range of the sounding result.
The second is in the final pages, where the trumpet part reverts to air-‐sounds through the instrument. The tightness of the embouchure is indicated graphically. This should be audible as a continuum from ‘lightness’ to ‘darkness’ of tone, rather than as pitch, specifically.
DYNAMICS
The piece is written almost exclusively without dynamics. The entire ensemble should, as much as possible, play the piece as soft as humanly possible. While the precise volume implied by “as soft as humanly possible” will vary depending on local material, there should be an audible fragility in the soundworld, with any given sound implying the risk of not sounding properly.
The only context in which the volume should creep above this minimal dynamic level is in the case of ornamentation, where their distortive impact may be facilitated through a more ‘savage’ attack.
SINGING/HUMMING
All wind parts contain singing and humming, which is notated with open-‐box noteheads. Sung pitch is always notated in the same transposition as the instrument (e.g. sung pitches in the horn part are notated a fifth higher than they sound).
The notated vocal range is extremely high, and takes its limitations from the total possible gamut of the human voice (male and female). Where a pitch lies (as it frequently will) outside the vocal range of the individual performer, it is left to them to determine the means by which this can be resolved. Possible solutions might include (a) changing the octave in which the pitch is sung; (b) treating the notated pitch as an ‘extreme’, and maintaining that extremity by singing as high as possible; (c) inverting the interval (e.g. singing a third lower than a nearby played pitch, rather than a third higher). This decision should be made with reference to other musical details, notably canonic structures and harmonic fields.
Singing will frequently distort or destabilise the played pitch. This is fully intentional. The sung pitch should, however, almost always be subsidiary (almost ornamental) to the played pitch. Where the destabilisation is such that the played pitch becomes untenable (for example, in the higher range of the bass clarinet), the sung pitch may be shortened (even so far as to make it a grace-‐note) in order to maintain the played pitch. The sung pitch must, however, be heard.
ORNAMENTATION
A large number of different types or ornaments are utilised in throughout all parts in the piece. These are typically notated with a ‘mordent’ or ‘trill’ symbol,
accompanied by a letter or symbol indicating the instrumental/musical parameter to which that ornament applies. Where no additional symbol is provided (i.e. only the ‘mordent’ or ‘trill’ is present) the parameter to be ornamented is left to the performer, and may encompass any of the ornaments otherwise used throughout the piece, or an ornamental figure of the player’s own devising.
In general, the precise manner of an ornament’s realisation is left to the discretion of the performer. However, as with ornamentation in earlier repertoires, the ornament should exist in dialogue with – that is, informed by, and complementary with – the prevailing musical materials.
Some of the physical motions required by these ornaments are extremely awkward (particularly the ‘mouthpiece’ and ‘teeth’ ornaments). The choreographic instability of these ornaments is fully intended. Despite this, however, all possible effort should be made to fold such ornaments into a continuous line (even if this effort is doomed to failure…).
As the coloured layers are frequently articulated only through the zone of impact of an ornament, the following principles should be observed:
1. Ornaments should, as far as possible, be heard as being ‘on’ the beat (this may have an impact on articulation).
2. Ornaments (particularly mordents) should be maximally distortive. That is, they should interrupt the line to the greatest degree permitted by ‘good taste’ (as defined in subjective reference to the local context).
Practically any element of instrumental technique may be ornamentalised, and the performer should feel free to think creatively about these, but a list of those specifically called for in this piece is as follows:
Wind
Fingers
P Pitch ornament: rapid alternation between the primary (notated) pitch and an auxiliary pitch. Where a specific auxiliary pitch is intended, this is provided in parentheses. Otherwise, the pitch is left at the discretion of the performer.
Key click ornament: the ornament should be marked by a forceful key-‐click.
V Valve ornament (brass only): rapid alternation between the ‘normal’ valve position and an auxiliary position. This may be located on any valve (or combination of valves), and between any position (open, closed, or a half-‐valve). This may result in anything from a bisbigliando, through a timbral change, to quite significant pitch alterations.
Half-valve ornament: rapid alternation between a normal valving of a pitch and a half-‐valve. This may be any valve, or combination of
them.
Half-valve ornament (brass only): rapid alternation between the normal valve position for the notated pitch and a half-‐valve position. This may be on any valve or combination of valves.
Key ornament (trills only): Where a pitch name is provided next to a trill symbol, it is intended that this key be rapidly trilled.
Embouchure
E Embouchure ornament: rapid alternation in embouchure pressure. This may result in anything from a slight change in timbre to a wild change in the resulting pitch. In some places, the intended pitch contour resulting from an embouchure ornament is notated graphically. In these contexts, the performer may also employ throat, air pressure, mouth location (on the mouthpiece) and tongue position to achieve the graphically notated aim.
M Mouthpiece ornament: rapid alternation in the location of the mouth on the reed or mouthpiece. This will tend to be quite a subtle effect, although the impact on a more fragile sound (such as a multiphonic) could conceivably be quite extreme.
T Teeth ornament: rapid alternation between a normally played note and the same fingered pitch but with the teeth directly on the reed.
Voice and throat
Growl ornament: Rapid throat growl – typically used in an almost articulatory fashion, producing a distortive zone of impact on the particular rhythmic location.
Sung ornament: Rapid alternation in singing. This could mean any number of things, including (but not limited to) alternation between singing and non-‐singing (or vice versa), alternation in pitch in a sung pitch. Precise pitch of the ornament is always left to the performer, but should ideally be drawn from (either explicitly or more ‘ornamentally’) the local pitch world surrounding the ornament.
Breath
B Breath pressure ornament: rapid alternation in breath pressure.
‘Breathiness’ ornament: rapid alternation in breath content of the tone. This may be between normal tone, a ‘breathy’ tone with minimal pitch content, and a pitchless breath sound (i.e. breath through the instrument only).
Nasal inhalation ornament: a rapid, violent and noisy inhalation through the nose. This will interrupt the sound, although it should be resumed as soon as possible.
Strings
Bow
Bow pressure ornament: a rapid alternation in bow pressure. This may be to either a significantly lighter, or significantly heavier pressure, at the player’s discretion, but as a general rule, maximal contrast should be prioritised.
Vertical bowing ornament: sweep the bow lightly along the string and back to its starting position, before continuing. Ideally there should be no lateral movement in the bow (i.e. there should be no pitched vibration in the string).
Fingers
P Pitch ornament: a rapid alternation in pitch between the notated pitch and an auxiliary pitch, and back again. This may be achieved either through the addition/subtraction of a finger, or the momentary activation of an adjacent string (in which case double stops are permissible). Where no auxiliary pitch is specified, this is left to the performer’s discretion.
S Slide ornament: similar to a pitch ornament, although this is to be achieved through rapidly flicking or sliding the finger up or down the string to produce a glissando. In some instances, these are graphically indicated, and may be quite extreme in range, necessitating a particularly violent choreography.
OTHER SYMBOLS
Indicates a transition between two states, as smooth as possible.
Indicates a rapid alternation between two states. Where three different states are indicated, this implies a rapid alternation between all three, in random and irregular order.
Glissando/portamento. It is envisaged that the ‘straight’ line is as smooth as possible (i.e. a genuine portamento). The ‘squiggly’ line should be somewhat more interrupted, such as a fingered chromatic-‐ or diatonic glissando. The precise nature of the difference between these two lines is left to the performer.
Rapid move away from the note in question, in the direction indicated. Depending on the instrument in question, and other instrumental concerns, this may be either harmonic or inharmonic, mono-‐ or multi-‐phonic or simply a straight glissando. These shifts in pitch may be achieve by any physical means necessary. In all such contexts, the graphic lines indicate a general ‘type’ of directional behaviour, rather than a specific notation of sounding result to be slavishly adhered to.
WIND
Diaphragm vibrato.
Smorzato (change of volume and timbre effected through embouchure manipulations. Pitch should not change). Typically, this is notated as a series of three grace notes following a pitch. The precise number of iterations is left to the performer, and will depend on the duration of the note and the speed of the smorzato itself. Occasionally, this is notated rhythmically.
Breathy, diffuse tone. Minimal (although still audible) pitch content. This may be achieved through modifications to breath pressure/direction, embouchure shape/tightness, tongue position, etc. If absolutely necessary, it is permissible to heighten the effect by allowing air to escape around the mouthpiece.
Pitchless breath tone, through the instrument.
No breath at all directed through the instrument. Where this symbol is present it is also supplemented by:
Tongue stopping the reed/mouthpiece.
Tongue leaving the reed/mouthpiece open.
Embouchure pressure.
Breath pressure.
Rapidly change through random valves.
The piece contains frequent extended passages with absolutely no pause for breath. In some contexts, and for some players, this may be solved through circular breathing. In other contexts, breaths can be inserted between notes or ‘phrases’. In still others, it is permissible, and perhaps necessary, to replace ornaments with the nasal inhalation ornament. Ideally, this substitution will be made uniform across the ensemble, where the ornament forms part of a unison or canonic ornamental structure.
Oboe
All fingerings are drawn from Peter Veale and Claus-‐Steffen Mahnkopf’s The technique of oboe playing. Where a specific multiphonic from that book is envisaged, the number is included in a box.
In the case of notated glissandi, the performer may substitute their own glissando fingerings if they desire, but a true portamento should always be aimed for.
Horn
Due to the unavailability of the hand in the bell, quartertones must be achieved by tuning the F side of the horn a quartertone flat. All fingerings are determined on this basis.
Trumpet
It is envisaged that the trumpet will produce quartertones through use of the tuning valves on the first and/or third valves, although some players may have a specially designed/modified trumpet. Either approach is fine. There are some glissando passages where specific tube-‐length alterations are notated graphically. Each tube is considered to have a total range of a quartertone, between ‘in tune’ and a quartertone flat.
STRINGS
The string parts use two different types of staff. The first is the standard five-‐line staff. The second is a (typically) four-‐line staff indicating the placement of the left hand on the instrument, commencing from section 3.
The left hand is to placed in a comfortable position across all of the strings – 1 on IV, 2 on III, 3 on II and 4 on I. The filled in black circle indicates a specifically pitched finger – all other pitch is governed entirely by performer’s natural grip. This is usually 1, but this will vary. The open circles are for reference only, and
do not specify any pitch or intervallic material. The hand then moves up and down the next in accordance with the graphic lines constituting the staff.
The circles should never themselves be articulated. All articulations are placed through standard rhythmic notation, placed on the line pertaining the string(s) on which it is to take place.
Rapidly alternate between all indicated strings. This may be regular or irregular.
Bow pressure
Finger pressure