Morphogenic Projections
percussion quartet in four sculptural sound suits, with choreographic scores
Morphogenic Projections is an experiment in tuning the self as an instrument. How do we become more aware of our resonant bodies, and use gesture to extend sound beyond us? I wanted to slow down time and notice the ripple effects of every impetus and action we take for granted. I created four sculptural sound suits and choreographic scores for the percussion quartet Caballito Negro to explore and play with in this sonic meditation.
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About the score
Instead of fixed notation, I guided the performers through spontaneous composition experiments using word prompts and choreographic scores. We had little time together, and the prompts changed each time we met. The score is a series of movement studies, one page for each suit.
The piece moves through three parts:
- Solos. Each sound suit is offered its own solo. One at a time, each performer introduces the voice of their suit to the room.
- Response. The performers answer one another, each holding a role: Performer 1, the Initiator, seeds the ideas; Performer 2, the Responder, fuels engagement; Performer 3, the Connector, builds relationships; Performer 4, the Architect, builds foundations.
- Collective. All four suits sound together as one body.
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The four sound suits
Wearable instruments that turn every gesture into sound. Studio sessions with each suit:
Making the sound suits
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Before the premiere
From Hope's talk to the audience at Richardson Auditorium:
Hello. Ooh, reverb. My name is Hope. Thank you for being here. This is an experiment. You are now involved.
I was so amazed by how playful this ensemble was with these sound suits. One of the things I've been really interested in is tuning the self as an instrument: how do we become more aware of our resonant bodies, and of how sound extends beyond us? We have a little impetus, and then it has all of these ripple effects. I think we take it for granted.
I was thinking about that liquid they give you before a CT scan, the one that lights up all your veins. The veins were already there; we just forget about them. So I wondered: what's a way to shock myself into being aware of my resonant body?
This is a very soft piece. It's quiet music that ripples into space. So, if you are willing to accept this mission, reimagine this space as a pool of water. Richardson Auditorium is now a pool of water, and we're all in it together. They happen to have sound suits on, but you're floating too. Take this in as an experiment for yourself, where the sound leaves their suits, reaches you in your seat, and maybe extends beyond you.
At the end, although you will want to clap, I'd like us to use that moment to reflect on the sound. There will be a blackout, and they will disappear into darkness. And maybe you will too.