Michael Cooke

for n in reversed(range(1,4)):

play(n)
pause(n)

For Loop or 80’s Nostalgia

 
In the 1980s, during my school years, pattern music – encompassing minimalism and post-minimalism – was at its peak. Among my peers at school, John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine resonated strongly. My piece for Loop initially began as a homage to that vibrant era. However, as the composition evolved, it took on a mechanical, almost computer-like quality. This shift, likely influenced subconsciously by my college composition professor, Dr. Cindy McTee, and her work Circuits, led me to discover a recurring pattern in the piece: play 3 – reset 3, play 2 – reset 2, play 1 – reset 1. This pattern reminded me of a simple ‘for loop’ in computer programming. Thus, the title for n in reversed(range(1,4)): play(n) pause(n) was born, reflecting this programming loop and accentuating the composition’s likeness to a computer in operation. The San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra (SFCCO) brought this piece to life with its premiere on May 9th, 2015.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 30th, 2015 at 9:57 am and is filed under Composition, Orchestral. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.