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about

(1991)

"51 Melodies" is the first and, to me, most important of a series of computer-composed instrumental works begun in 1990, using my HMSL morphological mutation software. These pieces are primarily concerned with melody, and with morphing melodies in a variety of ways. "51 Melodies" is a kind of signature piece for these ideas.

"51 Melodies" is based on two melodies, a "source" and a "target", and is in three sections. The piece begins with the source, a kind of pseudo-anonymous rock lick. The target melody, an octave higher and more chromatic, appears at the beginning of the third section, played in unison by the guitars and bass. The piece ends with the source. In between, the two guitars morph, in a variety of different, independent ways, from the source to the target (over the course of Sections 1 and 2) and back again (Section 3). A number of different morphing functions, both durational and melodic, are used to distinguish the three sections.

These morphing functions produce some extraordinarily difficult, awkward, non-idiomatic, but ultimately (I hope), fun guitar music. "51 Melodies" was first performed in 1992, and Nick, Leo, Greg and I have performed it several times since, as have a number of other ensembles (some with me on guitar, some with other guitarists). I am grateful to Nick, Leo and Greg for their dedication, friendship and musicianship, which helped bring this work into existence.

credits

from CHANGE (ART 1023, 2002), released August 9, 2002
Larry Polansky, Nick Didkovsky, electric guitars; Greg Anderson, electric bass; Leo Ciesa, drums

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Artifact Recordings San Francisco, California

ARTIFACT RECORDINGS is a project of Ubu, Incorporated, an artist-run, non-profit organization supporting experimental and electronic music based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our download and compact disk series is dedicated to representing a living experimental music tradition that continues to thrive in the cracks between the commercial, academic and classical music establishments. ... more

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