Fire, dance, wind — Natural energy flows through this collaboration in a joyful work performed live by The McLean Mix, using their many skills on instruments and extended vocal techniques, along with exciting video and music created from the Composers Playpen (Bart's MAX/MSP software).

 

This culminating work explores the connections between human motion resembling that of nature and visa versa, thus becoming a fusion of the two (for example, the image of "dancing fire" might conjure up the essence of the work).  The music alternates between lively pulsative sections and more subdued sections where Priscilla employs her considerable repertoire of extended vocal techniques,  The overall mood is joyful and assertive, and is a fitting end to the concert.

Details: Live-performed stereo sound, with video.  Co-composed with Priscilla McLean for McLean Mix tours of 2008 and 2010.  Utilizes software developed by Barton McLean using the MAX/MSP program, particularly the MSP part.  It develops another approach to audio processing (delays, pitch shifting, flanging) built on the same software used in “Autumn Requiem.”  This version of the software utilizes the comb filters in an innovative way in which sharp attacks such as those from spokes of an amplified bicycle wheel activate the resonances of the comb filters, which become pitches in themselves, arranged an various accompanimental beat patterns and sequences.  Instruments employed are small drum, soprano recorder, bowed flexatone, struck and bowed amplified bicycle wheel, thumb piano by Barton McLean, and voice, soprano recorder, turkey call, flexatone, violin, and other percussion by Priscilla.  All sounds are generated live.  No preexisting tape.  Video created by Priscilla with sections by Barton as well, using Final Cut Express.

​

Natural Energy is © & ℗ 2008 Barton & Priscilla McLean