“The almost-sculptural drum patterns seemed to exist on a different, non-synchronous channel… The result was performance in which neither the sonic nor the visual was subordinated to the other, but rather combined to create something which held the two together in a kind of synaesthetic flux.”
Luke Healey. a-n
Other works from this series and more information on the series in general can be found here.
Simple Harmonic Motion #12 is a live performance for 16 percussionists and light. It is part of an on-going series of works investigating complexity from simplicity – specifically the emergence of complex behaviour through the interaction of simple multi-layered rhythms. It is inspired by natural and mathematical phenomena, as well as works by the likes of Norman Mclaren, John Whitney, Steve Reich, John Cage, Gyorgi Ligeti and Edgar Varèse.
This performance is a ritualistic ode to chaos and order, inspired by the collisions between man and machine; the harmonies, tensions and conflicts between science, technology, culture, tradition and religion. Read more on the motivations here.
The human performers are controlled by a central computer. Each performer receives individual cues via in-ear monitors, and they do the best they can to act out the commands they receive — when to step forward and become active, when to hit, when to step back and become inactive etc. The individual performers don’t need to be aware of the ‘bigger’ picture, i.e. the composition, the show. They individually execute their own cues, and perform very simple, tedious, monotonous tasks. Each performer hits his/her own drum at fixed time intervals producing a sound and triggering a light. However, collectively they are a complex creature, controlled by the machine, playing out the complex audio-visual composition, drifting in and out of sync, shifting between order and chaos and back.
The performance was preceded by a 3-day workshop with local musicians (in this case students at the Royal Northern College of Music) familiarizing them with the concept and inspirations of the piece and preparing them for the performance.
Acknowledgements and credits
Commissioned by FutureEverything in partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music, with support from The Shed, MMU.
Producer: Mark Carlin
Assistant Producer: Sarah Unwin
Technical Assistant: Zach Snow
Costume: Mariel Osborn
Performers
Safira Antzus, Vykintas Civas, Mark Dyer, Richard Evans, Epa Fassianos, Emma Haughton, Lewis Knight, Daniel Lim, Luke Scott, Nick Seymour, Carmel Smickersgill, Alex Smith, Deane Smith, Harry Smith, Nathan Smyth, Jamie Stockbridge, Ollie Thomson.
Special thanks to:
Matt Whitham, Jose Luis de Vicente, Tom Higham, Drew Hemment, Paul Patrick, Mira Calix, Mick Grierson, Laura Pedroni, James Medcraft, Jenni Pystynen, Ersin Han Ersin.
