ON DEMAND Nicolas G. Miller
(instructions)
(text)
The score is divided into four documents: the text for recitation, the instructions (which read as stage directions), an audio file, and a video file for projection.
In speaking with Miller it was explained he had intentionally left recitation instructions rather vague in keeping with anteroom’s preference for openness and indeterminancy in scores. After numerous attempts at vocal delivery, it was decided to present the words much in the vocal tradition established by Robert Ashley and extended by Miller (A POTENTIALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE, IM NOT A BAD MAN IM JUST A BAD WIZARD) of punishing and difficult monotony which, according to several audience members, had the tendency to transition with time into soothing and atmospheric ambiance.
The film and textual material in ON DEMAND is appropriated from online browsing experiences of analog playback devices having been digitally documented and uploaded by members of Youtube, a popular video sharing virtual community. The audio of said videos was stripped and transposed into a single text document left for the performers to interpret. The seperate audio file included in the score was created by the composer and seems to be influenced by dub-step, a current and popular dance music style.
performed 27 May 2012 in Dallas, Texas at The Reading Room by anteroom.