DJ (1): about Riffs and
Noises for computer (MAXMSP) (2003)
Genre: computer music
Duration: variable
This is not the
first time I work with samples taken from the pop and jazz scene. In 1998 I
composed an 8-track tape piece using this kind of materials.
This time however, the
approach is quite different. Not only it is now the computer the one who
triggers all the events, but the transformation of the sampled sounds occurs in
a kind of DJ like live Mix. There are more than 120 different Samples, all
being taken form the pop and jazz scenes of the last 30 years.
The transformation of the sounds is
carried out by several "instruments" programmed by myself on the
environment Max-MSP, going from several and different random DJ-like consoles to
wave-shape granulation, filtering, envelope following or transposition. The use
of some Plug-ins as effect and special panning effects is also to be taken into
consideration. The ambiguity of dealing with these pop/jazz samples and the way
in which the audience may disguise OR NOT the origin of these sounds, is
something between "current DJing", electronic improvisation and
computer music.
Computer generated and life
produced noise (the audience is welcomed to cough or do any kind of audible
events during the performance) are also included in the compositional and
transformation materials, in a way (I guess) Cage would have liked.
The duration of the piece is
flexible, going from 12 minutes up to one hour, depending on the circumstances
of the performing venue and event.