Percussion trio + electronics
PopBlocks
Recording
Studio recording
About
About the work
Pop Blocks is a work for percussion trio, electronics, and fixed media in which the performers play exclusively on wood blocks. One instrument—a wooden agogo—is fitted with a contact microphone whose rhythmic scrapes are processed, amplified, and spatialized through a quadraphonic loudspeaker system surrounding the audience.
The electronics transform the agogo into an expanded resonant instrument while the fixed media introduces a playful layer of pops, clicks, and blips that occasionally evoke the texture of analogue radio. The result is a light, kinetic sound world built from a deliberately limited palette of materials.
This work, and the composer's residency at Harvard University, were supported in part by the American Australian Association Arts Fund and the Government of Western Australia Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
The agogo's rhythmic scrapes are projected, processed, and spatialized throughout the performance space.
Score
Study score
Browse the score below or open the PDF in a separate tab.
Programme
Performance programme
Browse the original concert programme or open the PDF in a separate tab.
Performances
Performance history
line upon line
Paine Hall, Harvard University · Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Premiere
line upon line
CRASHBOX · Austin, Texas, USA
line upon line
CRASHBOX · Austin, Texas, USA