cloning a mountain (2020) for any number of performers

realization by Dorothy Chen

another realization by Dorothy Chen

“Cloning a Mountain” is an experiment in information transmission and the first composition in the sonic cartography series. In lieu of a written score, performers are provided an audio score, comprised of six individual parts. Performers should first listen to the audio score at least once before listening to the individual parts.

After you have listened to all of the individual parts, please select some tools to make sound with! These do not have to be limited to musical instruments and can be any item that produces a sound. I have compiled a list of “instruments’ that were used for the audio score below.

Performers should record each part at least once. Half of these takes should be an attempt to perfectly mimic the sounds you are hearing. The other half of recordings can be more response based rather than perfect replication of sound. Feel free to make as many recordings as you like, but please make at least one recording of each part. Please feel free to record the parts in multiple takes or a single sitting, whichever you prefer!

“Instruments” used in the source materials:

• Viola (bowed, plucked, and prepared with tuning forks)

• Melodica

• Coffee cup, played with wooden beater

• Crystal glass with water

• Voice  (ingressive breathing, gargling sounds, etc)

• Prepared clarinet

• Coffee table

Cloning a Mountain is just over 7 minutes long.

For information on purchasing the audio scores, please contact me