i say 'me' guided by a blind instinct

Abstract

i say ‘me’ guided by a blind instinct is a complex system of self-reflection that guides performers in making real-time decisions that result in indeterminate sonic and behavioral outcomes. Performers begin isolated from one another and their regular performative habits. Each performance area (e.g., breath pressure, bow pressure, lip tension) independently transitions between a minimum and maximum state over a specified number of breaths (e.g., a transition from loose lips to tight lips spanning five breaths). These transitory strands overlap in odd physical counterpoint, resulting in new performer-instrument relationships and unstable sounds. Performers reflect upon their experience of these states—their level of discomfort or performance of attention allocation—and make changes in response (i.e., change the duration or direction of a transitory strand.) As the piece continues, performers progress from considering a single referent (themselves) to multiple referents (themselves and the actions of one or more co-players). What performers have the power to change, and the consequences of these changes become complicated by an emergent social network.