Week Three Notes
1/26, 1/28
Read Chapter 8: Forming
-Function-cycles, pattern-definition of life
-Form-abstract
-Forms do exist
1 Process of developing material
2 Process of giving it structure
Mechanical or cerebral
Organic form: Cunningham -rolling dice
AB- binary
Compositional structure: a phrase the formula you use to create a work
Narrative: story- definitive, beginning, middle and end
Collage: bits and pieces
Parts to make a whole
Reflection:
Last semester, we talked briefly about compositional forms. We discussed how compositional devices can be seen in music from different cultures around the world. However, we did not flesh out the possibilities those forms can create. I really liked how chapter 8 connected the patterns of life to the compositional forms. Life is something we typically take for granted but realizing that everything has a pattern and structure made this exploration interesting and full circle for me. We began with a mother phrase given by the instructor. The mother phrase was not very long, but after we dissected it and gave it a compositional equation, the phrase changed completely. Throughout this exercise I also realized how music can hinder or inspire movement. In working with music, one can become so connected to the music that the opportunity to create new vocabulary can become lost. With the help of form, I realized that more movement is not always the right choice. More movement can easily drift you away from your motif or theme. However, by using the compositional forms and equations, you can explore the mother phrase using the devices.
Exploratory practice:
Mother phrase
Listening to music:
Slow
Anticipation of what’s going to happen
Journey
Lullaby
Beginning or middle
Moving through something that constant
Rise in the music-but goes back and forth
Assignment: Mother phrase manipulation-compositional/structure/devices
Variation of mother phrase
Keeping the vocabulary
Utilizing AB-ABA-theme and variation-rondo
A-beginning to shoulder
B-starts with the right leg swivel
C-Chug upstage
D-walk around to the front
Improvisational Philosophy
Improvisation is the act of creating movement based on a given theme, motif or idea provided by the choreographer. Without premeditation, movement is creating in the moment during improvisation. To examine the endless possibilities that may arise, an open mind is needed during improvisational explorations. Without censorship, organic movement is created by the guidance of the choreographer and the liberality from the artist. By riding an endless wave of possibilities, I like to think of improvisation as water that hasn’t reached the shore. A wave that is composed of elements connected by a motif and an emotion. As the conductor of that wave, my goal is to create a space where artists can truly connect their emotions to their movement.As the wave makes its way to the shore, some particles may be lost however, my job as the conductor is to decipher what waves make it to the shore.
Recorded manipulation of mother phrase:
Week Four Notes
2/2, 2/4
Choreographic devices, functionality
-5 ways to manipulate a phrase
Repetition
Tempo
Staging
Embellishment
Changes of plane
AB+ABA+ABACAD
AB=REPETITION
ABA=TEMPO AND CHANGES OF PLANE
ABACAD=STAGING EMBELLISHMENT
Read the black dancing body Brenda Dixon- the aesthetic of the cool
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