Metronomic Hommage

This is a rough draft of my upcomming metronome project. Please leave comments, critiques, and questions bellow. Each box represents a metronome set to one of the original metronome markings on the original metronome 40-208. All of the metronomes start simultaneously and the piece ends when they sync back together after one minute. Each metronome has a color that is propotionally related to the tempo and pitch is also proportionally related to the tempo by multiplying the fundamental "A" typically found on electronic metronmes and the ratio of beats per minute or 60 seconds. For example if the metronome is clicking at 120 beats per minute it will sound the octave above the fundaments. This pieces is a metronomic hommage to Ligeti (composed a piece for 100 metronomes), Mäzel (supposed inventor of the metronome (MM=120)), Reich (composed pieces with phase shifting), and CastelI (18th century inventor of the color organ for which the great composer Telemann composed). I hope you enjoy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Metronomic Hommage
• Homage
• Hommage
• Metronome
• Visual Music
• Ryan Olivier
• Color spectrum
• tempo
• ligeti
• maelzel
• mäzel
• Castell
• Sync
• Synchronization
• tempi

[013ccsharpeflat]

Sean,

I looked at the visible spectrum which is roughly between 380-750 nm. I then subtracted one from the other (750-380=370) and plotted the color on that spectrum in relation to where the metronomic marking feel within its spectrum 40-208. For example if the metronome is set for 40 the color would be 380, 208/750, 60/424.

As to your other question, I do not think all art has to have something to say. I hope that one might enjoy art/sound/color/light without the need for something deeper.

[ZomboMambo]

Hehe, I was just looking for a song by Metronomy...

[cfolio100]

Bravo! This video fulfills a prophecy of many American Experimental composers, who tried to find analogies between pitch, rhythm, and other parameters. Henry Cowell made connections between the ratios of the harmonic series and polyrhythm in his book, NEW MUSICAL RESOURCES.

Another theorist who made analogies between pitch and other parameters was Charles Seeger (the husband of Ruth Crawford). His treatise is called "Tradition and Experiment in the New Music."

[manumdetabula]

Beautifully done!

[AnimaRequiem]

Interesting work Ryan, the visual stimulus does a lot to draw in the attention. I am a bit confused as to how you arrived at the color distinctions, would mind elaborating on that a bit? Also, I'm wondering what music of this sort has to "say," that is do you think that you are making any kind of artistic statement with this?