Doppler (Drehmer, Earl Richard)

Contents

Performances

Videos

MP4 file (audio/video)
Pseudotonal (2023/12/8)

Publisher Info. Earl Richard Drehmer, 2012.
Performers Ensoniq EPS
Copyright
Misc. Notes score performed by Ensoniq EPS, recorded by Audacity, video created with Windows Movie Maker
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TN-PMLP1396428-Doppler-1032.jpg

Synthesized/MIDI

MP3 file (audio)
Pseudotonal (2023/12/8)

Publisher Info. Earl Richard Drehmer, 2012.
Performers Ensoniq EPS
Copyright
Misc. Notes score performed by Ensoniq EPS, recorded by Audacity
Purchase
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TN-PMLP1396428-Doppler-4643.jpg
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General Information

Work Title Doppler
Alternative. Title
Composer Drehmer, Earl Richard
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IED 40
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1990 ca.
First Performance. 2012/04/06
First Publication. 2012
Average DurationAvg. Duration 14 minutes
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Modern
Piece Style Modern
Instrumentation piano
Extra Information improvised

Navigation etc.

Doppler is a study on infinitesimal rhythmic changes. It is the kind of thing that could have been done by Conlon Nancarrow with a player piano. I created it on my Ensoniq EPS synthesizer using a simple piano sample and some extreme usage of the sequencer. It begins with a repeated open Perfect 5th -- C and the upper G. Ever so gradually the C becomes a grace note. After 10 minutes the two notes are equidistant in time. The tempo increases and the dynamic gets softer then louder, suddenly stopping, finally resolving down to the open Perfect 5th of F/C with F above. The video begins with alternating black and white screens. When the listener can begin to detect the grace note, a single small white dot on a black screen acts as a grace note to the G. Eventually a small black dot on a white screen acts as an alternate grace note to the G. Then, ever so gradually, the length of the "grace notes" increases as does the number of dots -- up to 7 dots. As the climax is approached, the tempo of the addition of dots increases exponentially until the all black and all white screen are dropped and the number of dots increases to 50. The final dot screen is a total departure, containing 51 dots with some surprising changes at the end in the music and the video -- resolving the suspense but adding a twist.