Neil Rolnick - Digits (2005) - Kathleen Supové

Obviously, digits are what we use both to play the piano and to operate computers. This piece makes some fairly extreme demands on both types of digits. The piano part, written for Kathleen Supové, exploits her incredible technique to play a bit more than is humanly possible. The computer, which plays only sounds that originate from the piano, integrates with the live playing in a way which is seamless and, hopefully, a bit magical. Digits is a composition for solo piano and digital processing. The pianist must bring virtuoso technique to the performance, and the processing is designed to amplify the piano's sound in ways that are both subtle and arresting. All the processed sound comes from the piano. There can also be a video component of the piece. Designed by R. Luke DuBois, using Jitter, the video track processes live images of the pianist's fingers (her digits) as she performs the piece, and projects them on a screen inside or above the piano lid. The overall effect of the piece is of a classical, virtuoso piano sonata, in which the piano itself has been bent slightly out of shape, amplified, and multiplied, and the images of the player's fingers are brought directly to the audience and manipulated to complement the music.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Neil
• Rolnick
• Digits
• (2005)
• Kathleen
• Supové

[sallymosher]

Entrancing. A good bit of a WOW factor.

[theprof1958]

@sallymosher

This happened because she commissioned a three hands piece, but the other pianist, a one-armed musician, did not arrive on time...

[khantarya]

Wonderful! That`s all ! So,thank you!