MY latests multi-media interactive work, “Father’s Knots” was premiered March 1, 2017 as part of the Delta Omicron New Music Series at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC USA. Father’s Knots is a multi-media work based on a short story of the same name by writer Dustin M. Hoffman. This flash fiction story revolves around a father, who suffers from Dupuytren’s contracture (a condition that causes the pinky and ring finger of each hand to contract toward the palm) teaching his son to tie nautical knots, with a test to come. My adaptation of Father’s Knots is for narrator (reading the original short story), flute, video, and live computer processing. The premiere featured Chris O’Neill – narrator, Jill O’Neill – flute, Jeff Williams – video, with me performing live interactive computer processing of the narrator and flute audio. The flute part is based on three nautical knots: Sheepshank, Turk’s Head, and Angler’s Loop. I translated step by step diagram instructions on how to tie these knots into short melodic fragments, or cells. The flute player moves through the cells of each knot freely. The live computer processing is based on the capture and looping of an opening series of notes played by the flute. The computer processing techniques include spectral accumulation, convolution, harmonization, delay, granular sampling, filtering, and other conventional techniques.
We plan to make a video of a fixed version of Father’s Knots soon. Look for a posting to my video page in the near future. We are also considering a short documentary on the making of Father’s Knots. Stay tuned!