15 Minutes

for open instrumentation and computer (2000)

15 Minutes emerged from my desire to have a large group of performers improvise within a flexible, but disciplined structure, so that each performance would bear at least a resemblance to the last. The piece is played with a stopwatch conductor, and each performer has their own set of restrictions when they can or cannot play during each minute. The catch is that the “stopwatch conductor” is fairly unreliable, so the pace of the piece is constantly in flux.

(Kyklos Ensemble: Joe Bergen – Vibraphone, Taylor Levine – Electric Guitar, Josh Lopes – Electric Bass, Sara Phillips – Clarinets, Sam Ryder – Sax, Mariel Berger – Accordion)

[audio:15 minutes.mp3]