New Microtonal Score

Someone mentioned scores recently so I thought I'd provide one I wrote a
while back when I was in a John Cage sort of mood. As I can't manage to
get access to my webspace to put up any of my other scores and pieces,
I've this to offer for now. Fortunately the score can be presented in
its full glory in a simple text editor so here it is :-

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Mantras Converging on Silence

Performance preparation time - at least two weeks.

Instruments - Ideally - at least one stringed instrument capable of
playing microtones. At least one wind instrument capable of playing
microtones. At least one brass instrument capable of playing microtones.
Electronic instruments would make good substitutes. A watch or stopwatch
with a second hand and a pencil and paper.

Level - A successful performance requires exceptional concentration and
mental discipline.

Instructions.

Block off a two week space in your diary and make a commitment to go for
a walk on 10 out of the 14 days, preferably in nature, for between one
two hours each day or evening. Vary the time of the walk as widely as
possible but keep to the same route every day.

Plan to start the walk on the hour at any time except between 12 and 1.
Use the 12 hour clock for reference.

Choose a suitable mantra. Mantras can be provided on request by private
email to the composer. Americans - avoid corporate slogans. Brits -
avoid thuggish football (soccer) chants.

Loosen up. Stretch. Walk, chanting your mantra silently or aloud to the
exclusion of all other thoughts. When you notice that you have drifted
off from your chant, note the times in the following format : 2.15,
7.25, 11.41 etc. Note also the day the lapses occurred and where you
were on the walk.

At the end of ten days you will have a batch of times and locations.
(You might also experience a sense of serenity).

Arrange the times in strict chronological order. These are to be read as
cents, 1200 to the octave. You now have a collection of pitches. These
are to be written as a line of tones.

Observe the following chart:-

Sunday - 1 (ff)
Monday -2 (f)
Tuesday -3 (mf)
Wednesday - 4 (mp)
Thursday -5 (p)
Friday - 6 (pp)
Saturday - 7 (ppp)

You may choose any frequency as a starting point from which to measure
your collection of cents. The numbers refer to the allowable octave
transpositions. For example the tones collected on Tuesday can be octave
transposed up to three times up or down by adding 1200 cents and
multiples thereof.

Chords. Weekend tones may be played together as chords. Similarly
weekday tones can be structured vertically to give up to 5 note chords.

Orchestration, ie assigning tones to wind, string or brass and doubling
is left to the performer(s).

Rhythmic Groups. It is the performer's responsibility to arrange the
tones and chords in a rhythmic grouping that corresponds to the rhythm
of the chosen chant, essentially a repetitive structure.

Tempo is left to the performer but a very slow tempo is recommended.

Dynamics are given as per the day of collection.

Articulation. Strings - pizzicatto on Sunday and Friday. Harmonics on
Wednesday. All other days normal.
Wind - fluttertonguing on Thursdays.

Untuned Percussion may be added ad libitum.

Remarks. Beginners will produce lengthy compositions with copious notes.
The virtuosic performer will tend towards very few notes, the Master
towards pure silence.

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