2018 version - Performance at NSEME Conference, UNT, Denton, TX.

(2017)

Anthony T. Marasco - electronics, fabrication

Eric Sheffield - programming

Landon Viator - electronics

Brian Elizando - instrument curation and percussion consultation

Premiered at Electric LaTex 2017, Tin Roof Brewing Company, Baton Rouge, LA

Four4 is a “CD-length” (72:00) piece for unspecified percussion instruments. Like the other “number pieces” John Cage wrote towards the end of his life, the title refers to the number of performers and sequential location in the series – the 4th piece for Four performers. The score consists of flexible time brackets that contain a single number designating the instrument to be played.Playing times and gesture speed and duration are determined through random operations that produce unique results in every performance.

In our original 2017 arrangement, audience participants were encouraged to engage with the installation and were instructed to move each robotic arm to a new instrument during the performance. In our current arrangement, each robot is assigned to its own part and instrument choices are fixed.