As part of my masters study I am going to begin keeping a log/journal of what I am practising that relates to my research.
My research is revolves around the idea of becoming familiar with Elliott Carter's rhythmic techniques so that I can use them in improvisation.
This first post will be more about what I have been working on in this area recently, and then future posts will be more about how they (and I) develop.
I started writing this, but then it became apparent the explanations would be better served with notation. Once I get to doing this I will post in much more detail.
Just quickly though,
5's and 7's grouped in 9
increasing and decreasing grouping of divisions of 5 and 7, ie, groups of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
in 3's, grouping 4 in one hand and 5 in the other, grouping 4 in one hand and 7 in the other, moving between them
in 4's, grouping 3 in one hand and 5 in the other, grouping 3 in one hand and 7 in the other, moving between them
in 5's, grouping 3 in one hand and 4 in the other, grouping 3 in one hand and 7 in the other,
moving between them
in 7's, grouping 3 in one hand and 4 in the other, grouping 3 in one hand and 5 in the other,
moving between them (I'm finding this quite hard)
Playing around with the 9 beat cycle, with 4's grouped 5, 5, 5, 6, 5, 5, 5
Like I said, notation plus thoughts coming soon......
Can't wait to see the notation, I am very impressed,
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
E. Carter
with that chunk of stuff in the middle, are you keeping the stable rhythm in the same hand or switching?
ReplyDeleteie. with the 3's, you've got 4 and 5, then 4 and 7, so do would you keep the 4 in one hand and have the other move around it or flip them around?
It strikes me, though, that Carter's rhythmic dimension has to do not only with groupings or irrational ratios, but also with the divergence of speeds. In one of the Eight Pieecs for Four Timpani, one hand maintains a steady pulse while the other speeds up and slows down around it. Is this the sort of thingyou're attempting to incorporate into your improvs?
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Is that the real Elliot Carter commenting on your blog??
ReplyDelete@ James,
ReplyDeleteI'm practising both, but am interesting in the idea of keeping the speed in one hand the same, while changing the other.
@Joe,
You are right, and it is a large part of Carter's recent music, and also what I hope to gain a deeper understanding of. These sorts of exercises are merely my tools to become more familiar with these concepts. Our discussing on 2 x divisions is a good example of how these exercises deal with speed....