WAVES for computer-generated sound and Improviser(s)
William Susman
About this work:
The first performance of was presented by the San Francisco Contemporary Chamber Players at the San Francisco Museum of Art in 1983 with Susman at the piano.
The tape part is vintage computer-generated sound created on CCRMA's legendary Samson Box, a modified PDP-11 optimized for John Chowning's FM synthesis algorithm.
Any number of improvisers may interact with these electronic sounds that allude to exploding bells and the mythical Sirens of the Odyssey. Written when Susman was 22 and originally for 4-channel tape, the "tape part" now exists on CD or MP3.
Recently "Waves" has experienced a revival of sorts in 2007-2008 with multi-wind virtuoso Demetrius Spaneas performing it in Athens, Riga, and Moscow and Quintet Tabor performing it at S.U.N.Y. Stoneybrook.
Year composed: 1982
Duration: 00:11:00
Ensemble type: Electronic Instruments and Sound Sources:Prerecorded Sound and Live Instrument(s)
Instrumentation: 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano
Instrumentation notes: Suggested Instrumentation: Percussion Metals such as gongs and tam-tams bowed, rubbed and struck. Saxophone long-tones with multi-phonics. Piano strings scrapped with nail or metal brushes.