Ioannis Andriotis

Prayer
for Soprano and Live Electronics




on a poem by
R. M. Rilke


































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Prayer
for Soprano and Live Electronics


Program notes

Prayer (2012) is a composition for solo soprano and live electronics. It is based on the poem
Gebet by Reiner Maria Rilke, translated into English by Edward Snow.
1
The text is treated in
an abstract way whereby the semiotics, semantics, and sonorities of the words interact with the
electronics, shaping a conceptual form of dialogue. The electronics consist of prerecorded
samples and real time processing. Additionally, the staging and physical gestures of the
performer contribute to the dramatic effect of the work.


Performance notes

The room should be dark during the performance.

Spotlighting the singer is strongly recommended.

The singer should use abstract gestures but not in an exaggerated manner.

The singers cue pitch will be provided through an earphone.
A slow and narrow vibrato should be utilized.


Special notation

Numbers placed within a circle indicate cues for triggering MaxMSP
events. Hitting the spacebar on the computer keyboard automatically
advances to the next cue. The current cue number is always displayed on
the right top corner of the patch.


Approximate time in minutes and seconds format where events should
occur.

Breaths should be treated as musical sounds and therefore, must be
always clearly audible.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1
!Snow, Edward ed. Prayer. In The Poetry of Rilke, 89-90 (New York: North Point Press, 2009).

Technical requirements and information
This is an overview of the technical requirements. Please refer to the provided diagram for a
visual representation.

MaxMSP patch Obtain the MaxMSP patch by E-mailing the composer at:
ioannis_andriotis83@hotmail.com

Concert Hall &
Lighting

The room should be dark during the performance. The use of spotlight(s)
on the singer is strongly recommended.

Computer

The computer assistant should use a PC or Mac running either the full
version of MaxMSP 6 or the free application of Max6 runtime, which can be
downloaded at: http://cycling74.com/downloads/runtime/

The computer should meet the minimum requirements listed upon bellow.
A Hard Drive with sufficient free space
A minimum of 2GB of RAM
An Intel Dual-Core processor 2.3 Ghz, 3MB L3, or faster

Microphone A large diaphragm condenser microphone should be positioned behind the
stage pair of speakers, set to cardioid polar pattern, and connected to a
balanced input into the audio interface/mixing console.

External
Hardware
A good quality tube preamplifier, channel strip, or harmonic exciter may be
inserted into the signal chain, if available. In such case, the computer
assistant should bypass the build in equalizer and/or compressor located in
the input section of the MaxMSP patch.

Audio interface Any mixing console and/or any audio interface with at least one balanced
input, three balanced outputs, and phantom power supply can be used.

Reverb



Configure the dry/wet reverb fader in the MaxMSP patch to achieve the
optimum blend between the build in reverb and the natural reverberation of
the concert hall.



For any additional information or request do not hesitate to E-mail me at:
ioannis_andriotis83@hotmail.com










Speakers &
Diffusion

Two speakers set in stereo configuration and an earphone to provide
pitches to the singer are the minimum requirements for the performance of
this piece.

In case more speakers are available, the diffusion should be performed
within a number of 4 to 8 speakers.

The patch is built in such a way that the user is able to overwrite the default
settings for the input and output routing, if necessary.

Additionally, a stage monitor should be used if requested by the performer.
This should be placed behind the microphone (off-axis, please refer to the
provided diagram).

Cables &
Power supply

The cables used for the performance should all be balanced.
Wireless microphones are not recommended.
The singers earphone, and only, can be wireless.
The power strip(s) should be grounded, and preferably include a noise
filter.

Stage Monitor
placed off-axis
A pair of speakers set in
Stereo configuration
Large diaphragm condenser microphone
set in cardiod pollar pattern

An earphone to provide
pitches to the performer
Optional
Spotlight(s)
External hardware such as
tube mic preamp , channel
strip, harmonic exciter etc.
Optional
PC/Mac running
MaxMSP
Optional
Optional Optional
Optional
L
R
Prayer - Suggested Set Up
2012 by oannis Andriotis
all rights reserved
Soprano

Nach sil

le - Nach
Misterioso =4-6
Sopr.
sil

le - Nach in o - which pure pure pure

Sopr.
hings hings red Erigh red hings whie
pcsstbt/e
Sopr.
sca

ered - col - ors pure pure

sca ered - col

mcrendc
lors -

_
_
_
_

uu:uu
Intro 27sec.
timecode
slow and narrow vibrato
_
_
-
ca. uu:4u
.

-
1

Rianer Maria Rilke

English translation by Edward Snow
oannis Andriotis
2 3
for Soprano and Mixed Media
4
5
deep percussive sound
_
ca. uu:56
.
a/mcst spc/en
-
-
6 7
8 9
_
.
.

(/cng pause)

11 12
13 14 15
10
_
-

_
a/mcst /egatc
(shcrt pause)

16 17 18 19 20
_

deep percussive sound

_ , _ ,
,
,

,
,
, ,
,
, ,
,

,
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,

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Sopr.
ga

hered -

in o - darl ne...ss..... - ssh in

- o
Sopr.
darl ness - Do

my

sen...

Do my sen

- (n)
mc/tc
Sopr.
do

my

sen
mc/tc
ses - for

e ver - ev er -
Sopr.
much ligh
pcsstbt/e
mc/tc
Do
fast and anxtcus/y

my face for e
(mm)
- - -
Sopr.
ver

for

e
gradua//y s/cver
ver - sile nce - my sen ses - for

sile nce -
_
_

_
_
_

_
_
ca. u2:4
.

transform "e" into an

"sh" smoothly
-
ca. u:u7
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
_
scfty, a/mcst spc/en
-
-
start immediately
after the bells
clearly audible breaths throughout this section
Anxiously and much faster
ca. u:u

_
.

(extend the n)

mc/tc
.
faser

(extend the n)
28
29 30 31 32 33

bells
_
.
(extend the n)

.
slowly

34 35 36
_
-
.
.

.

*
**
*
gradually transform "e" into
an "mm" (closed mouth)
37
38 39
40
_

.
free/y, vtthcut tempc
mcrendc
ca. u4:42
-

41 42
43 44 45 46
,
, ,

_
,
,
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,
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,

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,
2
Sopr.
free/y, vtthcut tempc
start after the shtmmery texture stcps
stm.
Sopr.
Sopr.
Sopr.
Sopr.
Narration
Judge by my hands don't they lie there exactly like tool and things?
ca. u5:uu
The light ... full of trust
47
48 49
as if they were bright - lit paths, gathered colors into one darkness's ... one silence.
Forever ... in darkness
50 51 52
of that rich manifold Do my senses really still play too much with light? My face... forever stand out.
54 55 56 57
53
Judge by my hands the light... full of trust across them as if they were bright - lit paths that diverge no differently
60
58 59
in darkness...
Nocbt...sulle Nocbt...

ca. u7:2u
62
61
Norman, Oklahoma
December 2012