Posted on by Bernard Bel

Undetermined rests in dance performance

The polyrhythmic piece "765432" composed by Andréine Bel for her CRONOS dance production (1994) illustrates the use of undetermined rests. Six dancers were on stage: Suresh Shetty, Smriti Mishra, Olivier Rivoirard, Vijayshree Chaudhary, Arindam Dasgupta and Andréine Bel.

In this grammar, "SUB1" indicates a substitution that only needs to be performed once. Using it to replace "SUB" saves computation time.

Glyphs "…" are undetermined rests, i.e. silences whose duration is a priori unknown and will be precisely calculated by the polymetric expansion algorithm.

The whole structure is based on regular arithmetic divisions. For example, Suresh moves at "speed 7", Smriti at "speed 6" and Olivier at "speed 5".

"CR47" and "C46" are patches from the Roland D-50 synthesiser.

ORD
GRAM#1[1] S --> Internal C47 Part1 Canon C46 _vel(90) Part2
GRAM#1[2] Part1 --> {Suresh1, … Smriti1, … Olivier1, … Vijayshree1, … Arindam1, … Andreine1}
GRAM#1[3] Part2 --> {Suresh2, Smriti2 …, Olivier2 …, Vijayshree2 …, Arindam2 …, Andreine2 …}
GRAM#1[4] Internal --> _script(MIDI controller #98 = 0 channel 1) [D50 stuff]

ORD
GRAM#2[1] Suresh1 --> SuMov7x7 SuSil7x7 SuMov6x7 SuSil6x7 SuMov5x7 SuSil5x7 SuMov4x7 SuSil4x7 SuMov3x7 SuSil3x7 SuMov2x7 SuSil2x7 SuMov1x7 SuSil1x7
GRAM#2[2] Smriti1 --> SmMov6x6 SmSil6x6 SmMov5x6 SmSil5x6 SmMov4x6 SmSil4x6 SmMov3x6 SmSil3x6 SmMov2x6 SmSil2x6 SmMov1x6 SmSil1x6
GRAM#2[3] Olivier1 --> OlMov5x5 OlSil5x5 OlMov4x5 OlSil4x5 OlMov3x5 OlSil3x5 OlMov2x5 OlSil2x5 OlMov1x5 OlSil1x5
GRAM#2[4] Vijayshree1 --> ViMov4x4 ViSil4x4 ViMov3x4 ViSil3x4 ViMov2x4 ViSil2x4 ViMov1x4 ViSil1x4
GRAM#2[5] Arindam1 --> ArMov3x3 ArSil3x3 ArMov2x3 ArSil2x3 ArMov1x3 ArSil1x3
GRAM#2[6] Andreine1 --> AnMov2x2 AnSil2x2 AnMov1x2 AnSil1x2

ORD
GRAM#3[1] Suresh2 --> SuMov7x7 SuMov6x6 SuMov5x5 SuMov4x4 SuMov3x3 SuMov2x2 SuMov1x1
GRAM#3[2] Smriti2 --> SmMov6x6 SmMov5x5 SmMov4x4 SmMov3x3 SmMov2x2 SmMov1x1
GRAM#3[3] Olivier2 --> OlMov5x5 OlMov4x4 OlMov3x3 OlMov2x2 OlMov1x1
GRAM#3[4] Vijayshree2 --> ViMov4x4 ViMov3x3 ViMov2x2 ViMov1x1
GRAM#3[5] Arindam2 --> ArMov3x3 ArMov2x2 ArMov1x1
GRAM#3[6] Andreine2 --> AnMov2x2 AnMov1x1

ORD
GRAM#4[1] SuMov1x7 --> SuCycle7
GRAM#4[2] SuSil1x7 --> SuMov1x7
GRAM#4[3] SuMov2x7 --> SuCycle7 SuCycle7
GRAM#4[4] SuSil2x7 --> SuMov2x7
GRAM#4[5] SuMov3x7 --> SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7
GRAM#4[6] SuSil3x7 --> SuMov3x7
GRAM#4[7] SuMov4x7 --> SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7
GRAM#4[8] SuSil4x7 --> SuMov4x7
GRAM#4[9] SuMov5x7 --> SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7
GRAM#4[10] SuSil5x7 --> SuMov5x7
GRAM#4[11] SuMov6x7 --> SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7
GRAM#4[12] SuSil6x7 --> SuMov6x7
GRAM#4[13] SuMov7x7 --> SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7 SuCycle7
GRAM#4[14] SuSil7x7 --> SuMov7x7
GRAM#4[15] SuMov1x1 --> SuCycle1
GRAM#4[16] SuSil1x1 --> SuMov1x1
GRAM#4[17] SuMov2x2 --> SuCycle2 SuCycle2
GRAM#4[18] SuSil2x2 --> SuMov2x2
GRAM#4[19] SuMov3x3 --> SuCycle3 SuCycle3 SuCycle3
GRAM#4[20] SuSil3x3 --> SuMov3x3
GRAM#4[21] SuMov4x4 --> SuCycle4 SuCycle4 SuCycle4 SuCycle4
GRAM#4[22] SuSil4x4 --> SuMov4x4
GRAM#4[23] SuMov5x5 --> SuCycle5 SuCycle5 SuCycle5 SuCycle5 SuCycle5
GRAM#4[24] SuSil5x5 --> SuMov5x5
GRAM#4[25] SuMov6x6 --> SuCycle6 SuCycle6 SuCycle6 SuCycle6 SuCycle6 SuCycle6
GRAM#4[26] SuSil6x6 --> SuMov6x6

ORD
GRAM#5[1] SmMov1x6 --> SmCycle6
GRAM#5[2] SmSil1x6 --> SmMov1x6
GRAM#5[3] SmMov2x6 --> SmCycle6 SmCycle6
GRAM#5[4] SmSil2x6 --> SmMov2x6
GRAM#5[5] SmMov3x6 --> SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6
GRAM#5[6] SmSil3x6 --> SmMov3x6
GRAM#5[7] SmMov4x6 --> SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6
GRAM#5[8] SmSil4x6 --> SmMov4x6
GRAM#5[9] SmMov5x6 --> SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6
GRAM#5[10] SmSil5x6 --> SmMov5x6
GRAM#5[11] SmMov6x6 --> SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6 SmCycle6
GRAM#5[12] SmSil6x6 --> SmMov6x6
GRAM#5[13] SmMov1x1 --> SmCycle1
GRAM#5[14] SmSil1x1 --> SmMov1x1
GRAM#5[15] SmMov2x2 --> SmCycle2 SmCycle2
GRAM#5[16] SmSil2x2 --> SmMov2x2
GRAM#5[17] SmMov3x3 --> SmCycle3 SmCycle3 SmCycle3
GRAM#5[18] SmSil3x3 --> SmMov3x3
GRAM#5[19] SmMov4x4 --> SmCycle4 SmCycle4 SmCycle4 SmCycle4
GRAM#5[20] SmSil4x4 --> SmMov4x4
GRAM#5[21] SmMov5x5 --> SmCycle5 SmCycle5 SmCycle5 SmCycle5 SmCycle5
GRAM#5[22] SmSil5x5 --> SmMov5x5

ORD
GRAM#6[1] OlMov1x5 --> OlCycle5
GRAM#6[2] OlSil1x5 --> OlMov1x5
GRAM#6[3] OlMov2x5 --> OlCycle5 OlCycle5
GRAM#6[4] OlSil2x5 --> OlMov2x5
GRAM#6[5] OlMov3x5 --> OlCycle5 OlCycle5 OlCycle5
GRAM#6[6] OlSil3x5 --> OlMov3x5
GRAM#6[7] OlMov4x5 --> OlCycle5 OlCycle5 OlCycle5 OlCycle5
GRAM#6[8] OlSil4x5 --> OlMov4x5
GRAM#6[9] OlMov5x5 --> OlCycle5 OlCycle5 OlCycle5 OlCycle5 OlCycle5
GRAM#6[10] OlSil5x5 --> OlMov5x5
GRAM#6[11] OlMov1x1 --> OlCycle1
GRAM#6[12] OlSil1x1 --> OlMov1x1
GRAM#6[13] OlMov2x2 --> OlCycle2 OlCycle2
GRAM#6[14] OlSil2x2 --> OlMov2x2
GRAM#6[15] OlMov3x3 --> OlCycle3 OlCycle3 OlCycle3
GRAM#6[16] OlSil3x3 --> OlMov3x3
GRAM#6[17] OlMov4x4 --> OlCycle4 OlCycle4 OlCycle4 OlCycle4
GRAM#6[18] OlSil4x4 --> OlMov4x4

ORD
GRAM#7[1] ViMov1x4 --> ViCycle4
GRAM#7[2] ViSil1x4 --> ViMov1x4
GRAM#7[3] ViMov2x4 --> ViCycle4 ViCycle4
GRAM#7[4] ViSil2x4 --> ViMov2x4
GRAM#7[5] ViMov3x4 --> ViCycle4 ViCycle4 ViCycle4
GRAM#7[6] ViSil3x4 --> ViMov3x4
GRAM#7[7] ViMov4x4 --> ViCycle4 ViCycle4 ViCycle4 ViCycle4
GRAM#7[8] ViSil4x4 --> ViMov4x4
GRAM#7[9] ViMov1x1 --> ViCycle1
GRAM#7[10] ViSil1x1 --> ViMov1x1
GRAM#7[11] ViMov2x2 --> ViCycle2 ViCycle2
GRAM#7[12] ViSil2x2 --> ViMov2x2
GRAM#7[13] ViMov3x3 --> ViCycle3 ViCycle3 ViCycle3
GRAM#7[14] ViSil3x3 --> ViMov3x3

ORD
GRAM#8[1] ArMov1x3 --> ArCycle3
GRAM#8[2] ArSil1x3 --> ArMov1x3
GRAM#8[3] ArMov2x3 --> ArCycle3 ArCycle3
GRAM#8[4] ArSil2x3 --> ArMov2x3
GRAM#8[5] ArMov3x3 --> ArCycle3 ArCycle3 ArCycle3
GRAM#8[6] ArSil3x3 --> ArMov3x3
GRAM#8[7] ArMov1x1 --> ArCycle1
GRAM#8[8] ArSil1x1 --> ArMov1x1
GRAM#8[9] ArMov2x2 --> ArCycle2 ArCycle2
GRAM#8[10] ArSil2x2 --> ArMov2x2

ORD
GRAM#9[1] AnMov1x2 --> AnCycle2
GRAM#9[2] AnSil1x2 --> AnMov1x2
GRAM#9[3] AnMov2x2 --> AnCycle2 AnCycle2
GRAM#9[4] AnSil2x2 --> AnMov2x2
GRAM#9[5] AnMov1x1 --> AnCycle1
GRAM#9[6] AnSil1x1 --> AnMov1x1

ORD
GRAM#10[1] Canon --> Twist Walk Stretch Bend Jump Turn
GRAM#10[2] Twist --> Sm Tik Tik Tik Tik Tik Su Tik Tik Tik Tik Ol Tik Tik Tik Ar Tik Tik Vi Tik An
GRAM#10[3] Walk --> Sm Su Tik Ol Tik Tik Ar Tik Tik Tik Vi Tik Tik Tik Tik An Tik Tik Tik Tik Tik
GRAM#10[4] Stretch --> Twist
GRAM#10[5] Bend --> Walk
GRAM#10[6] Jump --> Twist
GRAM#10[7] Turn --> Walk

SUB1
GRAM#11[1] SuCycle7 --> Su Tik Tik Tik Tik Tik Tik
GRAM#11[2] SuCycle6 --> Su Tik Tik Tik Tik Tik
GRAM#11[3] SuCycle5 --> Su Tik Tik Tik Tik
GRAM#11[4] SuCycle4 --> Su Tik Tik Tik
GRAM#11[5] SuCycle3 --> Su Tik Tik
GRAM#11[6] SuCycle2 --> Su Tik
GRAM#11[7] SuCycle1 --> Su
GRAM#11[8] SmCycle6 --> Sm - - - - -
GRAM#11[9] SmCycle5 --> Sm - - - -
GRAM#11[10] SmCycle4 --> Sm - - -
GRAM#11[11] SmCycle3 --> Sm - -
GRAM#11[12] SmCycle2 --> Sm -
GRAM#11[13] SmCycle1 --> Sm
GRAM#11[14] OlCycle5 --> Ol - - - -
GRAM#11[15] OlCycle4 --> Ol - - -
GRAM#11[16] OlCycle3 --> Ol - -
GRAM#11[17] OlCycle2 --> Ol -
GRAM#11[18] OlCycle1 --> Ol
GRAM#11[19] ViCycle4 --> Vi - - -
GRAM#11[20] ViCycle3 --> Vi - -
GRAM#11[21] ViCycle2 --> Vi -
GRAM#11[22] ViCycle1 --> Vi
GRAM#11[23] ArCycle3 --> Ar - -
GRAM#11[24] ArCycle2 --> Ar -
GRAM#11[25] ArCycle1 --> Ar
GRAM#11[26] AnCycle2 --> An -
GRAM#11[27] AnCycle1 --> An

SUB1
GRAM#12[1] Su --> {1,do4-}
GRAM#12[2] Sm --> {1,mi4-}
GRAM#12[3] Ol --> {1,sol4-}
GRAM#12[4] Vi --> {1,do5-}
GRAM#12[5] Ar --> {1,mi5-}
GRAM#12[6] An --> {1,sol5-}
GRAM#12[7] Tik --> {1,do7-}

The following output was recorded on a Roland D-50 synthesiser.

This performance was part of the choreographic work CRONOS performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Mumbai, India) and the Shri Ram Center (Delhi) in October 1994. An excerpt is shown from 4mn 50s to 5mn 10s:

References

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