Steven Lamphear - Quantum Gravity (2011) for electric cello and live signal processing

8/6/2019 Steven Lamphear - Quantum Gravity (2011) for electric cello and live signal processing

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Steven Lamphear

Quantum Gravity

For Craig Hultgren

2011 Steven Lamphear Music (ASCAP)

for electric cello and live signal processing

Approximate duration: 6 minutes, 30 seconds


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About Live Looping:

This piece makes use of "live looping" techniques in which all looped material will be recorded bythe performer into a loop sampler (also known as a "phrase recorder") during the performance of thepiece. This allows the audience to watch the performer record each loop and hear how the differentlayers of sound t together as each phrase is recorded.

The loop station used in the composition of this piece is the Boss RC-20XL, though performersshould be able to use other loop stations of equal or greater sophistication with little or nomodication to the score. This loop station allows for different phrases to be assigned to different slots,which the performer can select using an additional foot-switch (such as the Boss FS-5U) plugged intothe RC-20XL's "Phrase Shift" jack at the back of the unit. The loops are numbered as x/y, where "x" isthe phrase indicated by the "Phrase Select" knob (which can be changed by a single press of the FS-5Ufoot-switch) and "y" is the loop layer being recorded (in order of performance). For example, the rstloop to be recorded while the "Phrase Select" knob is set to Phrase 2 will be labeled as "Loop 2/1" (in boxed text). At times, certain loop layers may need to be removed while keeping the same phraseselected; when this occurs, only the most recently recorded phrase will need to be removed, makinguse of the loop station's "Undo" feature.

The rst three phrases of the loop station (positions 1, 2, and 3 of the "Phrase Select" knob) should be pre-set with the following tempos and time signatures to facilitate smooth quantization of the loops(this information will stay in the loop station even when no power sources are available, so this may be done in advance of the performance):

Phrase 1: 2/4 time at 75 beats per minute.Phrase 2: 5/4 time at 75 beats per minute.Phrase 3: 3/4 time at 110 beats per minute.

Using Pre-Recorded Loops:

If the performer would prefer not to record the looped phrases in front of the audience, or if aseparate sound engineer will be operating the pedals instead of the performer, the loops may be pre-recorded and simply triggered during their initial appearances. If this method is used, prepare bystarting loops 1/1 and 1/2 with the volume pedal all the way down, then begin the performance withmeasure 7. Because of their mid-phrase appearances, loops 1/3, 2/2, and 3/2 may still need to berecorded live unless the loop station being used allows the performer to switch between pre-recordedphrases and continue playing. If the loop station being used allows this (as the Boss RC-20XL does),the phrases should be pre-loaded in the following order:

Phrase 1: Loops 1/1 and 1/2 (1 measure of 2/4 time at 75 beats per minute).Phrase 2: Loops 1/1, 1/2, and 1/3 (copy data from Phrase 1 and add Loop 1/3).Phrase 3: Loop 2/1 (two measures of 5/4 time at 75 beats per minute).Phrase 4: Loops 2/1 and 2/2 (copy data from Phrase 3 and add Loop 2/2).Phrase 5: Loop 2/1 (copy data from Phrase 3).Phrase 6: Loop 3/1 (four measures of 3/4 time at 110 beats per minute).Phrase 7: Loops 3/1 and 3/2 (copy data from Phrase 6 and add Loop 3/2).

Since these phrases will be numbered differently than the phrases used when live looping, the "pedalup" symbol ( ) has been placed underneath the "Live Performance" staff at each point where the nextphrase is to be triggered.


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Performance Notes:

The signal path should go, from the electric cello, through a reverb unit (congured to emulate thenatural reverb of an acoustic cello) followed by a distortion pedal, then into the input jack of an A/Bswitcher (such as the Boss AB-2). The "A" path from the switcher should go through the loop station(such as the Boss RC-20XL), then a volume pedal, then into the mixer. The "B" path from the switchershould go directly into another input on the mixer. These inputs should have no differences in spatialseparation (panning) or volume (so that the two channels are equally loud when the volume pedal isat full volume) so that switching between paths will not be audible to the listener. Signal paths A andB will be designated in the score by either S. P. A or S. P. B respectively in boxed text. "Phrase 1,""Phrase 2," and "Phrase 3" refer to the assignment of the "Phrase Selector" knob of the Boss RC-20XL(or its equivalent on other loop stations), which are to be switched using a separate foot-switch (suchas the Boss FS-5U). See the "About Live Looping" notes on the previous page for more informationon this.

The distortion pedal should be congured so that the perceived volume with the distortion pedalturned on is equal to, or only very slightly greater than, the perceived volume with the pedal off. The

level of distortion should be at a medium-low level, like that of a classic rock guitar solo, so that theeffect is readily perceived by the listener without sounding overly compressed.

Any instructions related to foot-controlled pedals (with the exception of the alternate phraseselections for pre-recorded loops) will be in boxed text.

Dynamics will not be shown for the "Loop Station Output" staves unless the loop station's output is being altered by the volume pedal. When this is the case, crescendos and diminuendos will beaccompanied by starting and terminating dynamics given as percentages (with "0%" meaning thatthe volume pedal is rolled all the way down and "100%" denoting full volume).

Each phrase to be recorded into the loop station has a bracket above it and a label in boxed text. Each

time this notation is used, begin recording the loop at the opening of the bracket and stop therecording at onset of the last note to fall within the bracket. Looped areas will need to be memorizedso that the performer can watch the ashing LED on the loop station for the tempo without needingto hear an audible click.

Any bracketed loop phrase may be repeated as a safety if multiple attempts are necessary to recordan accurate performance, though this should only be done if necessary.

"Z" denotes an unmeasured, rapid tremolo (similar to a buzz roll in percussion notation); "+" denotesa pitch or group of pitches plucked or strummed with a nger of the left hand; "X" note-heads denotemuted strings (laying multiple ngers across the strings to prevent harmonics from sounding); note-heads with slashes through them denote approximated pitches within a glissando.

All glissandi (including pizz.) are to be treated as portamenti, and should occur gradually over thestarting pitch's duration, with the target pitch sounding for its proper duration, and are to be re-articulated unless slurred.

The plectrum used in Phase III may change depending upon the performer's preference, but theseparts were composed with a plastic guitar pick of medium thickness in mind.


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Steven Lamphear

Quantum Gravity For Craig Hultgren

for electric cello and live signal processing

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Steven Lamphear - Quantum Gravity (2011) for electric cello and live signal processing

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