Princeton Sound Kitchen presents
Ellen Fullman & Theresa Wong
Co-sponsored in partnership by Princeton University Interdisciplinary Humanities (IHUM), PU Department of Music, Composers Colloquia, Lewis Center for the Arts, and the Council for Science and Technology.
New works by
Jeff Snyder
Cleek Schrey
Molly Herron
Liam Elliot
James Moore
Bora Yoon
Performed by:
Jenny Beck
Liam Elliot
Ellen Fullman
Florent Ghys
Molly Herron
John McCowen
James Moore
Iarla Ó Lionáird
Anna Pidgorna
PLOrk
Anna Roberts-Gevalt
Cleek Schrey
Annika Socolofsky
Theresa Wong
Bora Yoon
Location: Lewis Center for the Arts CoLab Gallery
Ticketing: Free admission
Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Start time: 8:00 pm
Program
Jeff Snyder
Casting Down the Middle
Ellen Fullman, long string instrument; PLOrk, the Princeton Laptop Orchestra
James Moore
The Untroubled Mind
Ellen Fullman, long string instrument; Anna Roberts-Gevalt, voice, violin, banjo; James Moore, electric guitar
Liam Elliot
Veils
Ellen Fullman, long string instrument; Theresa Wong, cello; Liam Elliot, Korg Monologue
INTERMISSION
Molly Herron
Wind Walk
Ellen Fullman, long string instrument; Theresa Wong, cello; Bora Yoon, voice; Jenny Beck, voice; Anna Pidgorna, voice; Annika Socolofsky, voice; Florent Ghys, double bass; Molly Herron, viola da gamba; Cleek Schrey, viola da gamba;
Cleek Schrey
Untitled
Ellen Fullman, long string instrument; Cleek Schrey, violin; Theresa Wong, cello; John McCowen, clarinet
Iarla Ó Lionáird
Abha an tSuláin (Sulán River)
Bora Yoon
(( ( PHONATION )) )
Ellen Fullman, long string instrument; Theresa Wong, cello; Bora Yoon, voice, Stroh violin, tethers; Cleek Schrey, prepared piano; members of PLOrk, tethers
About the Long String Instrument: Wooden box resonators are mounted at one end, with strings extending to tuning blocks mounted at a fixed point across the room. The performer bows strings with rosined fingertips while walking in a pathway between strings suspended at waist height. Enormous lengths are required when strings are excited in the longitudinal mode or played by bowing lengthwise. The instrument’s pitch range is determined by length. For example, A3 (216 Hz) spans 38 feet in length, and every octave lower requires a doubling of that length. Installations thus far have ranged from 50 to 300 feet. A uniquely designed capo on each wire changes the vibrating string length much like a capo on a guitar. The instrument is tuned in just intonation, a natural tuning system based on the harmonic series. Even though, in the longitudinal mode, string length is the only factor determining pitch, the strings are tensioned just under the breaking point in order to maximize resonance. Very fine gauge wire is used because it takes less energy or pressure for the string to speak when bowed and therefore produces a more pure tone with less surface noise. Phosphor bronze produces an interval of about a fourth lower than a stainless steel string of the same length. The use of various metals and alloys not only changes the tuning but also changes the timbral quality. The Princeton Sound Kitchen residency represents a great expansion of my thus far mostly personal research with the Long String Instrument. It has been my intention all along to make what I have developed available for composers and performers to work with, and it is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to do so at such a high level here at Princeton University. Much gratitude to Bora Yoon for conceiving of and producing this project. — Ellen Fullman