- Sound Patterns
"Sound Patterns" (1961) is a musical
piece or composition fora cappella mixed chorus byPauline Oliveros . Oliveros won theGaudeamus International Composers Award in 1962 with this work. [Von Gunden 1983, p.26-27]Rather than a traditional text, the work is constructed of phonetic sounds chosen on the basis of their
timbre . The piece is entirely notated, lasts about four minutes, and features anexposition (measures 1-12), development (12-46), and recapitulation (47-59).The sounds may be understood to reflect Oliveros' interest in
electronic music , which she recently had begun to work with. Heidi Van Gunden (1983) illustrates this point by highlighting four types of sounds that correspond to basic electronic music techniques:
#white noise
#ring-modulated sounds
#percussive envelopes
#filtered techniquesWhite noise is created vocally through the initialconsonant "sh" and variations such as s, z, wh, p, t, h, ct, d, ch, th, k, and sw. Ring modulation is imitated through rapidly changing the vowel content, percussive envelopes through "lip pops," "tongue clicks," "snap fingers," and "flutter lips", and filtering through muting such as by covering the mouth with one's hand, sounding the consonant "M" through tightly closed lips, or singing through clenched teeth. (ibid, p.26-28)It is Oliveros' "most carefully composed piece" and features only one measure of controlled
improvisation linking the development to the recapitulation. The piece also predates similar compositions byGyörgy Ligeti andKarlheinz Stockhausen ("Moment " 1961-1962, revised 1965). Ligeti was actually one of the judges for the Gaudeamus competition and featured unusual vocal sounds in his "Aventures " (1962) and "Nouvelles Aventures " (1962-65). These works are all featured inErhard Karkoschka 's "Notation in New Music" (1966/English 1972). (ibid, p.29-30)Available on
*"Extended Voices" (Odyssey 32 16 0156)
*"20th Century Choral Music" (Ars Nova AN-1005)ource
* Von Gunden, Heidi (1983). "The Music of Pauline Oliveros". ISBN 0-8108-1600-8.
References
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