TRIAGE(tm) (2007)
Three Short, Ambient, Abstract Digital Films by Joey Bargsten

 

One Minute Previews: top - PROJEK IAGHT(tm); middle - HOVER(tm); bottom - FLESHY(tm) (requires QuickTime Plug-In)

 

 

 

OVERVIEW TRIAGE(tm) is a set of three short ambient films by Joey Bargsten:

HOVER(tm), IAGHT(tm), and FLESHY(tm).

HOVER(tm) is a single seamless shot that starts with a psychedelic olive, and we pull back to reveal the zombies in bed, and we pull back further to reveal sinister figures hovering over the abyss, and we keep pulling back to see this is all just a reflection in a shiny hubcap. In the original version, we continue to pull back to show the sacrificial maiden on the field of hubcaps, the multiplicity of maiden/hubcap planets, and on to an infinity that brings us back to the psychedelic olive. (See TOUR on DVD for this version)

But the final film stops when we first realize someone's holding the hubcap: to show more than that would be just too obvious.
 PROJEK IAGHT(tm) is film created from internet image searches using Google, Flickr, Yahoo, and so forth. Words searched included graffiti, urban art, DJ, skateboard, hiphop, breakdance, and tatoo, plus more generic or street terms like cool, party, kromp, yo, freak, pimp, playa, and iaght. Each image lasts one frame, there's 30 frames per second, and the film lasts about 3 1/2 minutes. So, it's a visual database of over 6,300 images.

The soundtrack is a layering of microsongs - actual pop songs compressed in time to last about 5 seconds each.

FLESHY(tm) is an extended essay in motion, color, and texture that lasts almost 20 minutes. The source material is a ballet of six performers' hands and arms, and the overall effect is created by layering, blurring, and offsetting about 90 layers of video.

I use a lot of different sound design and music software in my soundtracks, so I'm not going to get into the details; Logic, Max, SoundHack, SoundTrack Pro, and even GarageBand were used in these pieces.
PERFORMANCE - HOVER(tm) and IAGHT(tm) OK, so if you have the DVD, you've probably figured out that there's other stuff on this disc, specifically audio files for iPods or portable CD or MP3 players. These audio files are musical "parts" for performance by vocalists, while the DVD (specifically, HOVER(tm) and IAGHT(tm)) is playing on a screen behind the vocalists. Additionally, another layer of activity (theatre, spoken word, intervention) can also take place, fulfilling the wall-papery aspirations of these digital visuals and this digital/live audio mix. Recipe for a basic performance:

1) Gather six vocalists with iPods® (S-A-A-T-T-B). Could be multiples of six, too, I suppose.

2) Open the VOCAL_PARTS_IPOD folder. Distribute the folders of parts to each of the performers. Have them put their audio files into two different iTunes playlists - one for HOVER(tm) , one for IAGHT(tm). (The HOVER(tm) component is made up of between 34 and 54 files; IAGHT(tm) is a single file). The performers need to set their iTunes preferences, under "Playback" to deselect Crossfade Playback. 3) The vocalists cue up the HOVER(tm) playlist and, when given the signal from the conductor (or coordinator), play their playlist IN SHUFFLE MODE.

3) For each audio file in the playlist, there's a spoken word or phrase in Latin, then a single pitch, then that word or phrase sung to the pitch. The vocalists SING ALONG with that sung word or phrase, as it's being played.

Obviously, this is where it's helpful to practice or rehears this a few times. Also, the performers should print out the "latinTexts.rtf" file and get familiar with the texts, and how they're pronounced.

4) There will be intermittent "rests" in all the parts (except for the bass). The performers simply pause until the next word or phrase is played.

5) When the HOVER(tm) playlist is done, wait for the cue to proceed to the IAGHT(tm) section. When given the cue for IAGHT(tm), the performers play the IAGHT(tm) file, a single 3 minute 37 second file.

6) IAGHT(tm) has no text, just reiterated pitches at specific tempos. The performers sing along with the pitches, articulating the tempo by repeating monosyllabic text fragments or phonemes (woo -woo- woo - woo. . . . iaght-iaght-iaght-iaght-iaght. . . .etc.), as decided by the group or the conductor earlier. Proto-language and simple non-words work well; texts from dada poems work very well. The conductor can call for specific dynamics from each of the performers - "hairpin" phrases (gradually getting louder, then gradually softer) work well.

7) In IAGHT(tm), the performers do NOT need to be singing 100% of the time - they can rest as they need, especially if there are multiple performers on a part.

That's it! Good luck!

Note - If you're using portable CD-players or MP3 players that don't have a random shuffling capability, use the files in the "VOCAL_PARTS_CD" folder. There are only two files for each performer - one for HOVER(tm) and one for IAGHT(tm). There isn't the random element in this version, but at least anybody with any kind of portable player can participate.
PERFORMANCE - FLESHY(tm) There aren't any specific performance instructions around FLESHY(tm), but here's one suggestion: invite a larger ensemble (60 - 80 performers) to participate in this piece, have them download, and include in their playlist, ALL their files for both HOVER(tm) and the IAGHT(tm) file, and sing SUSTAINED VOWELS instead of rearticulated phonemes, fragments or latin texts. Each performer will also sing through this playlist about 3 times, in order for the entire time to be filled.

The ensemble can be split into two or three (or more) large groups, if desired, and offset both temporally (as in canons) and spacially (as in various parts of the hall or performance space). The performance will succeed or fail depending on the conductors' dynamic phrasing, of course.
FOR A STRETCH:
Figure out a way to perform this work that subverts its intention but still retains its sonic and visual identity - - all while superengaging and utterly profounding the audience!

 
HISTORICAL NOTE Scholars have long debated whether or not the three works on this DVD are actually part of ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY(tm), my digital media opera. Certainly, they are all cut from the same cloth. I'd say, yes, they probably are part of the IDEA of ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY(tm), although you might find it challenging to include them in an actual PERFORMANCE of the opera. Except, that IAGHT(tm) should follow immediately (and without a break), the "ROBERT'S CUBE" portion of the opera - that's the only place where that piece can go. The others - well, you figure that out, and let me know what works for you!

 
   

Notes by Joey Bargsten - 24.iii.07.

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Props out to Ligeti (1923-2006) for leading the way in the non-digital world!