Sebastian Adams

Complete works

All materials are freely available, except where I don't own the necessary permissions. Provided as is, please report bugs or mistakes. Feel free to get in touch with questions or to let me know you're interested in my work!

Quartet for viola and three radios

live viola, three radios, three transmitters, multi-channel playback and a microphone

Read Text Score
*a piece for live viola, three radios, three transmitters, multi-channel playback and a microphone* Three radios are set up at the very beginning of the piece but playing only silence. Each is tuned to a different radio station. The radios are set up in a line with a space between them, with the viola player standing in the fourth position in the line. The three radio stations correspond to the frequencies of three low-powered radio transmitters placed in the venue. Each is connected to a channel of the multi-channel playback device. A microphone is unobtrusively placed in the space and begins recording when the viola player starts playing. After a certain amount of time, the first radio starts playing back the recording. After two more periods of time, the remaining radios also join in, so a canon accumulates. A potential ending for the piece could be for an accomplice to turn off the radio transmitters one by one over a period of a couple of minutes, which should cause the radios to return either to a commercial radio station or to white noise. The material played by the viola player before the first radio begins should be quiet, sparse and lo-fi. Pitched material should be used and fragmentary phrases should be encouraged. Care should be taken during preparation to match the balance of the live performance, microphones and playback so that the sound coming out of each radio is perceived as being around the same volume as the performer. The gaps in duration between each entry could be in descending Fibonacci relations (or some other similar relationship). E.g. first radio enters after 5 minutes, second after 3 more, third after 2 more, after which this sequence could break down and the quartet could perform until an appropriate culmination is reached. #viola #composer-performer #improvisation #textpiece #radio #canon #idea #active

Three radios are set up at the very beginning of the piece but playing only silence. Each is tuned to a different radio station. The radios are set up in a line with a space between them, with the viola player standing in the fourth position in the line.

The three radio stations correspond to the frequencies of three low-powered radio transmitters placed in the venue. Each is connected to a channel of the multi-channel playback device.

A microphone is unobtrusively placed in the space and begins recording when the viola player starts playing.

After a certain amount of time, the first radio starts playing back the recording.

After two more periods of time, the remaining radios also join in, so a canon accumulates.

So far, I've only performed this once and the performance officially "failed" - because I forgot to sit beside the microphone, meaning it only picked up a very, very quiet signal. Once I realised, I was forced to play very quietly to compete with it (which then made the later parts of the canon even more quiet), The YouTube clip here is from that performance - it was somehow a nice effect even though my idea didn't work at all

I think the piece has legs though!

Quartet for viola and three radios

live viola, three radios, three transmitters, multi-channel playback and a microphone

Read Text Score
*a piece for live viola, three radios, three transmitters, multi-channel playback and a microphone* Three radios are set up at the very beginning of the piece but playing only silence. Each is tuned to a different radio station. The radios are set up in a line with a space between them, with the viola player standing in the fourth position in the line. The three radio stations correspond to the frequencies of three low-powered radio transmitters placed in the venue. Each is connected to a channel of the multi-channel playback device. A microphone is unobtrusively placed in the space and begins recording when the viola player starts playing. After a certain amount of time, the first radio starts playing back the recording. After two more periods of time, the remaining radios also join in, so a canon accumulates. A potential ending for the piece could be for an accomplice to turn off the radio transmitters one by one over a period of a couple of minutes, which should cause the radios to return either to a commercial radio station or to white noise. The material played by the viola player before the first radio begins should be quiet, sparse and lo-fi. Pitched material should be used and fragmentary phrases should be encouraged. Care should be taken during preparation to match the balance of the live performance, microphones and playback so that the sound coming out of each radio is perceived as being around the same volume as the performer. The gaps in duration between each entry could be in descending Fibonacci relations (or some other similar relationship). E.g. first radio enters after 5 minutes, second after 3 more, third after 2 more, after which this sequence could break down and the quartet could perform until an appropriate culmination is reached.

Three radios are set up at the very beginning of the piece but playing only silence. Each is tuned to a different radio station. The radios are set up in a line with a space between them, with the viola player standing in the fourth position in the line.

The three radio stations correspond to the frequencies of three low-powered radio transmitters placed in the venue. Each is connected to a channel of the multi-channel playback device.

A microphone is unobtrusively placed in the space and begins recording when the viola player starts playing.

After a certain amount of time, the first radio starts playing back the recording.

After two more periods of time, the remaining radios also join in, so a canon accumulates.

So far, I've only performed this once and the performance officially "failed" - because I forgot to sit beside the microphone, meaning it only picked up a very, very quiet signal. Once I realised, I was forced to play very quietly to compete with it (which then made the later parts of the canon even more quiet), The YouTube clip here is from that performance - it was somehow a nice effect even though my idea didn't work at all

I think the piece has legs though!

500 Minutes of Music for Microtonal Piano

(2022)   [500]

piano or MIDI piano

2021.3 (for Mairéad Hickey)

(2021)   [5]

violin

Commissioned by Kaleidoscope Night

2021.1

(2021)   [5]

piano

Viola Transcription of 'Failing: a Very Difficult Piece for Solo String Bass' by Tom Johnson

(2021)   [10]
Read Text Score
This piece has never been realised. The idea is that the viola player performs "Failing" by Tom Johnson, but because the viola is so much easier than the double bass, something has to be done to make it more difficult. My plan is for the performer to do this piece dressed only in underwear, surrounded by a team of assistants who have carefully learned the score and will whip the performer every time they perceive that a mistake has been made.

How to Build a VIOLIN in TWENTY MINUTES Tutorial

(2021)   [20]

open instrumentation, designed for audience performance

Read Text Score
the video is an instruction score

Breath play [WIP]

(2020)  

viola

Read Text Score
I haven't made a score for this but basically it's a title piece (an event score in the spirit of Yoko Ono) where any interpretation of the title could lead to a valid performance. So far, I've only done it by playing existing music (Bach or Stravinksy) with a balloon in my mouth, tucked under the strings so that my breath distorts the sound.

2019.7

(2019)   [7]

organ

Commissioned by David and Mary Adams

2019.6

(2019)   [7]

horn, electronics

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/idauyq1ftcd09v7/2019.6%20-%20Programme%20note%20for%20Horn%20and%20Electronics.docx?dl=0

Tense Systems (v. 1)

(2019)   [26]

performer, video, DIY-violin

2019.1

(2019)  

double bass, transducer, optional electronic processing

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7an6fzvq6zzxuzu/2019.1%20-%20Programme%20Note%20for%20double%20bass%2C%20computer%20and%20transducer.docx?dl=0

Dankgesang I

(2019)   [9]

any instrument(s), tape

Weight Piece

(2018)  

event score

Read Text Score
Weight Piece (2018) - Fv 1: Play your instrument and then get tied up by your colleagues. The piece ends when you can no longer play, or when you have been placed in a final position. (It's better not to play anything with personality, so the obstructions can be heard more easily) Fv 2: The original plan for this piece was to play viola with weights attached to arms, bow, etc. I still like the idea of trying this.

2017.5: Cimetière de Passy

(2017)   [5]

piano

Commissioned by Thérése Fahy

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5rasc0gzazfhcm0/2017.5%20-%20Cimeti%C3%A8re%20de%20Passy%20Programme%20Note.docx?dl=0

From Harry Patch

(2015)   [8]

horn

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ileh8tjegstu7h/Harry%20Patch%20-%20IV.docx?dl=0

Arrest Piece

(2016)  

event score

Read Text Score
Arrest piece (2016) Evade capture Arrest piece Fluxversion 1 Discuss pornography at medium volume near a children's playground. When police arrive, escape by digging a hole to Australia (both versions on one card)

2016.1 - Two 1916 Pieces

(2016)   [5]

piano

Commissioned by Maire Carroll

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pxc6nx3sidg0vzg/2016.1%20M%C3%A1ire%20Carroll.docx?dl=0

2015.3

(2015)   [8]

flute

2014.4: Siege of Wexford

(2014)   [5]

piano

Commissioned by New Ross Piano Festival

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f8vo5be9r59vtvz/2014-4%20Programme%20Note.docx?dl=0

2014.1

(2014)   [3]

bass clarinet

Nachtmusik

(2013)   [8]

cello

Work for Organ

(2013)   [15]

organ

One

(2013)   [20]

viola, live electronics

Tweet Piece (#2)

(2012)   [8]

guitar, fixed media electronics

Programme Note:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oqwa8gifujd16v0/analysis%20of%20the%20composition%20of%20Tweet%20Piece%20~2.docx?dl=0

Rhythm Study No. 3 (Hommage á J.S)

(2012)   [6]

piano

Work for Harpsichord

(2012)   [10]

harpsichord

adenosine and adrenaline

(2012)  

violin

Larghetto

(2011)   [4]

clarinet

Rhythm Study No. 2

(2011)   [5]

MIDI Piano

Prelude: Ave Maria

(2011)   [4]

piano

Piano Sonata No. 1

(2011)   [13]

piano

Evinescence

(2011)   [6]

accordion, fixed media electronics

Mirrors and Reflections

(2010)   [5]

viola, fixed media electronics

Obsession

(2010)   [8]

piano

Madam Dial Was Livid

(2010)   [4]

organ