Multimedia Composition Sabrina Pena Young
Multimedia Composition Practical considerations when composing for electroacoustic and multimedia musical compositions. A brief guide for the composers and intermedia artists interested in interdisciplinary projects.
Outline Possibilities: What can you create? Communication: Who are you working with? Music and Media: Questions to ask Logistics The Click Track
Do you need a click track? Performer must start on Beat 1 with tape or video. Conductor requests click track. College or amateur ensemble. Beat is difficult to define. Tape part does not have easy musical cues. Few rehearsals. Festivals. Can be optional.
Possibilities
What can you create? Works with Visual Artists and Video Film Music, Music Videos, Sound Installations, Live Performances.
Theatrical Works, Video Operas, Intermedia Compositions, Interactive Music Additional Links to Multimedia Compositions
Communication Always communicate with your performers, collaborators, and the tech team. There's no point in composing an incredible piece for interactive dance and video if you can't project video and the only available dancer has never worked with electronics before. Discuss Possibilities Discuss Limitations Work within these parameters
Questions to Ask What are the ensemble's strengths and weaknesses? Will there be a conductor? Does the conductor/performers need a click track? Is there live interactivity? Are the performers used to experimental music? Do you need video projection or plasma screens? Stereo, mono, or surround? What are the lighting issues? What is the most practical setup? What are alternatives if the pieces does not work?
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stravinsky! :-) Anything you can do to simplify the work logistically will help ensure a good performance. If the musicians don't want to do the piece, then the performance will suffer.
How to Simplify Add an optional click track version Keep communication open Make easy page turns Write in musical cues for the tape part Have visual cues in any video/visual art Talk with choreographers and dancers Add diagrams Go to rehearsals Get ready to revise Include Time Code and cues in the score Have a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D!
World Order #4 For Percussion, Violin, Cello, Piano, performance artists, narrators, video, tape
Creation Oratorio For Women's Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Video, Tape, Electronic Keyboard
Expanded Percussion Score
Cues and Graphic Notation
Music Cues in Tape and Instrument
Instructions
How to Add a Click Track Easiest: Stereo output, with Left Channel click and Right channel tape part. Add a tape part (w/click cues and time code) to the score. Add a count in. Advanced: Surround sound, with one track designated as the click. Headphones.
For More Info Check out “On Writing for Multimedia”. multimedia/