Oh, dear….

We’ve been spoiling you with good video. How about something quite different? Here’s how not to perform an indeterminate verbal piece, supposedly Chris Hobbs’s 1967 classic Voicepiece, but coming out as something much noisier. We bring this to you as a cautionary tale: Kids! Don’t drink and perform experimental music! Stay away from YouTube if you do!

Compare this with the score (click thumbnail to read):

hobbs voicepiece378

 

What is very odd indeed is the use of the conducted beat. But we like the hats and the Hirst-dotty shower curtain.

 

Author: Virginia

Virginia Anderson is a writer who messes with the EMC Blog. She specialises in the study of experimental, minimalist, and free improvisatory music. She also plays clarinet, and has recorded on Zanja, Advance, and Rastascan Recordings, specialising in new works for Eb clarinet and free improvisation.