Tone Being

For Tam Tam and sub woofer.Commissioned by Louise Devenish.Premiered at the State Theatre Centre, Perth, August, 2016.Other performances: Book of Daughters, JOLT Arts, 11 November 2016,Performing Ideterminacy Conference, 2 July, 2016, Leeds, UK; INLAND, Perth, September 2017.Released on Louise Devenish 'Music for Percussion and Electronics, Tall Poppies CD TP248.This is a study that continues Cat Hope’s explorations into low frequency sound as a frame for music structure and textural reflection. It is the second of a series of works for instruments and a sub woofer part. The sub woofer part, which is built into the score, consists of sine tones pitched according to measurements taken from distances between parts in the graphically notated score. This score is made up of ten unique approaches to the surface of the tam tam, that are presented to the performer in a fixed order and duration. The work explores an emphasis on the line as annotation for for timbre, time and harmonic development. Each colour is a different beater;Red: Superball (2 different sizes)Blue: yarn mallet (variety of sizes)Yellow: hard mallet or sticksOrange: soft brush/brushes.Green: mallet or object of performers choiceorange circle - metal bowl to ‘cup’ the sound.sub part indication is in pink (not to be played) The circular space indicates the area of the tam tam. Lines indicated a dragged mallet, with no audible attack at the start. The width of the line indicates the pressure/volume applied. Unless indicated, the direction of the line is free. Filled circles are hits, dynamic suggested by size. Take your time between each ‘figure’ on each slide; overlap them at times, vary the time you take between each figure. Move smoothly between slides as they fade over each other. The sub part is roughly indicated on each slide. The score should be read in the Decibel ScorePlayer app on an iPad. It can also be read as a video score, with accompanying sub part, available from the composer. A paper score is also available. The electronic playback comes from the score – and should be amplified through a sub woofer at a volume that balances with the tam tam. The loudest tam tam moment should clearly overpower the sub level. Allow the last sound to ring out as long as possible.​