Monasterio Nuestra Señora De Los Ángeles MM. Dominicas,
Mare de Deu del Roser, 2,
Sant Cugat (08174),
Barcelona.
A farewell kiss from a mosquito, on the back of the right hand, during morning sitting.
At breakfast, ZUM reported on their performance yesterday evening, the self-expression of the lighting man, and the flashing of the official venue photographer, despite the announcement requesting no flashes. Nevertheless, they felt the performance was successful overall.
Two reports on our work yesterday evening for Zum, one describing the Chromatic Whizzer sounding like grand pianos falling down Notre Dame & up again.
So, a report on our circulating these past 4 days. These are draft notes & a report of work in progress, to inform & support the initiatives & work of others.
These forms were practised, investigated & played in a Circle of 23–27 guitars. For simplicity of presentation, a Circle of 12 guitars is assumed.
Circulations.
Four forms; basic, variegated, whizz & free form.
Basic form.
The basic form is where the note is passed from seat to adjoining seat.
1. Basic form left (to the next, adjoining, seat on the left);
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 2 > 3 etc.
2. Basic form right (to the next, adjoining, seat on the right).
1 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1 > 12 > 11 > 10 etc.
Basic form with return.
Basic form, with return: the final seat in the circle returns the note to the first seat in the circle.
3. Basic form left, with return:
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1 > 2 > 3 etc.
4. Basic form right, with return.
1 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 12 > 11 etc.
Basic form with addition.
The beginning seat in each round of the circulation moves one seat further from the beginning seat.
5. Basic form left +1:
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 >
2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 >
3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 2 >
4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 2 > 3 >
5 > 6 > 7 etc.
Basic form with addition.
The beginning seat in each round of the circulation moves one seat further from the beginning seat.
5. Basic form left +1:
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 >
2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 >
3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 2 >
4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 2 > 3 >
5 > 6 > 7 etc.
6. Basic form right +1:
1 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 >
12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > I >
11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1 > 12 >
10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1 > 12 >
9 > 8 > 7 etc.
Basic form with subtraction.
The beginning seat in each round of the circulation moves one seat further from the beginning seat, towards the end of the circulation.
7. Basic form left - 1:
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 >
12 > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 >
11 > 12 > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 >
10 > 11 > 12 etc.
This is an exercise in holding the form; ie it is an exercise to practice attention. On the outside, sitting in an audience, this would be indistinguishable from basic form left & continuing. Inside the circle, the intention is different.
8. Basic form right - 1:
1 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 >
2 > 1 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 >
3 > 2 > 1 > 12 > 11 > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 >
4 > 3 > 2 etc.
Basic form with skip.
9. Basic form left 4 skip 1:
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 2 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12
2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 12 > 1 > 2 > 3 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 >
10 > 11 > 12 > 1 > 3 etc.
10. Basic form left 1 skip 1 (alternating form):
1 > 3 > 5 > 7 > 9 > 11 > 2 > 4 > 6 > 8 > 10 > 12 etc.
11. Basic form left skip 1: with 25 seats in the circle, this is…
1 > 3 > 5 > 7 > 9 > 11 > 13 > 15 > 17 > 19 > 21 > 23 > 25 > 2 > 4 > 6 > 8 > 10 > 12 > 14 > 16 > 18 > 20 > 22 > 24 > begins again at 1 etc.
Variegated Forms.
12. Variegated form left 3 – 1:
123
234
345
456
567
678
789 etc.
Sequentially ascending in C major this is…
CDE
DEF
EFG
FGA
GAB
ABC
BCA etc.
13. Variegated form left 4 - 1
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 >
3 > 4 > 5 > 6 >
5 > 6 > 7 > 8 >
7 > 8 > 9 > 10 >
9 > 10 > 11 > 12 >
11 > 12 > 1 > 2
1 > 2 > 3 > 4 etc.
14. Variegated form right 5 – 2 etc.
Accomodations.
NB depending upon the specific nature of the form & the notes being used, the last seat in the circulation may on occasion be the first (beginning). This, and other changes to the strict pattern of the form to honour the musicality of the circulation, is termed an accommodation.
Whizz Circulating.
Rapid circulating, at a speed faster than the mechanical mind can process.
15. The Chromatic Whizzer: the Circle divided into two groups and basic form left with return Whizzes on chromatic THRAK chords.
16. A two-group chase the THRAK chord Whizzer.
17. Basic form + 1 whizzes, perhaps with pauses at the end of each whizz.
Free Form.
When ready, the right person plays the right note at the right time, followed by the second right person who plays the right note at the right time, followed by the third right person to play the right note at the right time, and continuing. If two or more people strike a note simultaneously, the circulation begins again.
10.18
12.09 The final meeting at 11.00 with many good comments, mostly on the topic of the gestures in the circle during the Chromatic Whizz last night. The question: what is the power of gesture? For one, intentionality. The female Crafty, in the leading pole position of the 4 pole positions, presented the comment that they felt responsible in the position; adding to this comment later that a better expression was, she felt she was given the power. The power in the gestural content of discharging the role was noticeable to all; and another comment noted the stillness which followed the directed impulse that sent the chromatic whizz hurtling on its way. Many valuable related comments on this raised.
Some members are departing at 12.00; at 11.45 the discussion moved to practicalities. For those travelling to the UK, weather warnings were issued. Bredonborough had the greatest amount of rainfall in the UK yesterday; nearby Evesham is a major flood event; the West Midlands the most effected region.
There are doubts whether travelling from London to Bredonborough is currently possible & a GC house in Bredonborough would, today, be mostly cut off.
The formal completion meeting for the course will be held later by Dr. Mike.
Door call at 12.30 for the airport.
21.30 Bredonborough.
Calls to & from England from Barcelona airport, and on arrival, to Nick at Green’s Ironmongers, our pal & neighbour; and Mr. Cheese of Fromage Construction. Nick has put sandbags by our back door; Mr. Cheese was unable to get into Bredonborough, despite several attempts, from his home on the other side of the River Avon.
Landing c. 17.10, on the children-return-from-holiday flight, through immigration behind a troupe of Swiss scouts with Burger King cardboard crowns; the M4 West by Heathrow was packed, although easy into Chiswick. Car gassed, en-fooded & watered as a precaution given the warnings, the M40 out of London, the M42 & M5 South were light on traffic. By the time I was in the flood-alert area, the traffic blocks which had built up in the past 24-36 had moved. My usual route, off the M40 past Stratford & Evesham to Bredonborough, were impassable. Both towns are under water. The only difficulty were abandoned vehicles on the last 6 miles to town, on the country road off the M5.
Arriving c. 20.45, the net over the fishpond had the function of keeping the fish in, rather than the heron out. Various alarms in town were going off, ours among them. A walk down our street…
… towards the bridge I…
II...
III...
IV...
This is the road to Evesham, one of the worst affected areas, & very badly flooded. On the left of this picture is where the old mill, destroyed in one of 3 fires of prominent buildings on the street, has been rebuilt as apartments I…
II...
III...
Back along the street to the centre of town, where the large, riverside car park of the Angel & Trumpet has disappeared I…
II...
One car roof is poking out of the water, many more are only just visible.
The town hall is open as temporary accommodation with refreshments, the Indian & Old Fire Station restaurants are both in business, both supermarkets are closed (power cuts this evening). Met pals Ian & Lucy on the High Street, just having helped sandbag the health centre, who told me horror stories of family & chums having spent 15 hours on the M5 or getting to London & back.
23.56 Yippee! The Minx is home! Back from her gig north of Newcastle. Her journey down tonight straightforward, her journey there yesterday frightening, with several touch & go situations of getting stranded leaving London: 2 hours to move 50 yards, for example.
But, we are home & safe in a house which is dry & safe. For this, we are most grateful; and grateful to friends & neighbours keeping their eyes out & lending hands.
"Act from principle.
Move from intention."
