Preemptive performance post

It is performance day and this week has finally brought together a a myriad of interesting noises as the instruments have begun to reach completed states. We started to experiment with sounds with some improvisation activities which linked back nicely to the introduction activities we did where we paid attention to the sound around us and began to think about how we could add to this sound on the basis of listening.

We started by listening to the existing sounds in the greenroom and then we had to add something. This activity was a lot more successful when we turned out the lights as we became disengaged from the physical to focus more purely on the sounds, and hence we able to communicate and res pond more successfully. It also enabled us to escape any self consciousness. What resulted was a composition of sounds of movement, interaction with objects arou nd us, vocal sounds and some even began to incorporate our instruments. Other activites included just the use of vocals and holding a note for a breaths length which created some beautiful harmonies.

I was glad I went along to Phil's performance last week as I felt I had a better understanding of the approach we are supposed to now take with our instruments, as well as a better understanding of the way in which Phil's group were able to interact without verbal communication to create cohesive sound. It was a similar sort of effect we began to achieve in these activities an d it begun to get me excited again about this performance.

My instrument is more or less in a finished state but given enough time or another opportunity, there are still ways I'd refine it. Some of the bottles are unable to hold the compression for a long period of time and I always have to retune it. Three or four of the bottles leak completely and are unable to hold any compression so James discussed with me the need to calculate for a 'failure rate' when designing and constructing and have some spares on hand. Both James and Phil discussed with me the physical logistics of performance with my object in that it would be easier to play if the frame was horizontal or if the bottles are on an angle. I see the point they are making but for this performance I am going to stay with the vertical stand as it is more in keeping with my concept and my original focus on something which is more physically performative.

Now that we have the performance space available to us, I was able to start thinking more about this performative aspect in terms of using the space. I have experimented with setting up lighting with a red gel behind my instrument with the rest of the room in darkness so that the light shines through the bottles and the frame is mostly obscured. I will be behind the instrument but will attempt to set up the light so that my movements are shown by long shadows thrown on the ground. This is what I have to experiment with before tonight as well as becoming more familiar with my instrument and the tools I have developed to play it with.