Wildflowers: a Performed Lecture
Jack W. Stamps
About this work:
This piece simulates, in musical terms, what might happen if a botany professor, giving a stock lecture on Wildflowers, becomes consumed by the beauty of the subject matter. The 'romanticization' of academia comes complete with a PowerPoint presentation which is integrated into the score.
Year composed: 2007
Duration: 00:18:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Voice with Chamber/Jazz Ensemble, 6-9 Players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Clarinet, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello, 1 Bass-Baritone, 1 Computer/Laptop
Instrumentation notes: Flute doubles to piccolo. Clarinet is b-flat and doubles to bass clar. Percussion used: Suspended Cymbal, Castanets(mounted set of 2), Cuica, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Concert Bass Drum, Vibraphone, 12 stainless steel butter
knives (2 of which are played
on a small wooden surface), Slapstick, Sleighbells, 3 Unpitched Antique Cymbals of varying sizes (suspended), Medium Chinese Gong, Gobichand (see Performance notes), Field Drum, 2 Bongo Drums (different pitches). The baritone-lecturer sings through a bull horn (see below).
The aleatoric, graphically rendered pages in the score appear in all parts as they do in the score. Players are expected to perform autonomously in these passages, except where
indicated.
The PowerPoint Presentation(PPT) can either be performed by the Baritone-Lecturer
or by a person in audience. If a second person is used, it is important to maintain
the illusion that the presentation is being rendered by the Baritone-Lecturer.
The PPT Presentation is contained on the disc provided with score. It is important
that the file is copied to the hard drive of the performance computer first, as this will
ensure smoother rendering of the enclosed videos. The PPT presentation is rendered simply
by using the spacebar on the performance computer to advance the slides. The score
includes these performance markings.
The PPT presentation should projected upon the largest screen (or scrim) allowable by the
performance space, while maintaining a high degree of clarity in the projected images.
A Gobichand (or Ektar) is a single stringed instrument from Pakistan and India. It is played by plucking
the string with the finger or plectrum (pick), while applying pressure on either side of the
suspension rods to alter pitch. See Wikipedia.org for more info at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ektara. They are relatively inexpensive and they come in three sizes:
Soprano, Tenor, and Bass. This piece should use a bass. One can be found online at:
http://www.heritageethnicmusic.com. The composer has one for use as well.
The Bullhorn to be used by the Baritone-Lecturer can be of any brand, as long it has a dynamic
volume nob that will allow the balance to be adjusted to that of a normal speaking/singing
voice.