Ground: Five Mechanic Convention Streams

"Chimanazzi (Olun): core for violins, keyed violin and device arrays" (1991), a derivative of "Lattice," is one of Hunt's "mechanic convention streams" in which the composer investigates "non-conventional intention" and how it is transformed into gestures that make and modulate sound. The performer follows "streams, a string of goals which become coherent through reiterative additive use." Central to the stream is "a system device of translation gestures using the angelic tables produced by the mystic John Dee through the skrying of Edward Kelley (1582 - 1589)." Although this is intricately conceived and structured music, the sound has an earthly, non-European concert-music quality that will appeal to listeners who allow the mysterious ceremonical evocation to unfold on its own terms. "Lattice (stream): ordinal for piano and auxiliary device arrays" (1991), another derivative of "Lattice," is another of Hunt's mechanic convention streams. Intense reiterated, polyrhythmic and arhythmic clusters on the piano trigger idiophonic devices that rattle and shake to realize "resonance reinforcement goals." "Transform (stream): monopole for voice and device arrays" (1992), a derivative of "Haramand Plane," is also one of Hunt's mechanic convention streams. Whistling and breath phrases combine with various tiny bells and shakers and other small percussion to create a delicate and eerie performance. "Talk (slice): double for voices and transient device arrays" (1992) is a derivative of "Talk (slice): duplex" in which two speakers deliver intense, quasi-syntactical material: "no doubt about it, no doubt it...how could you think otherwise...I won't have any of that...repetition, repetition...yes, I know I know I know that know know I know that yes yes..." etc. Sounds include things that shake, rattle, tumble, bells ringing, and a sound like a paper bag being crumbled. "Bitom (stream): link for cow horns, pianofortes and mechanical device arrays" (1991) is a derivative of "Bitom (rota)." An approaching and receding sound like a giant wasp follows in exact unison with the reiterated single note piano playing (electronic shadowing by a frequency following computer). Intermittently, small rattles and other shakers evoke a primeval world, which also includes low electronic sounds like Tibetan Buddhist horns. ~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny