Duration: undetermined
At the heart of this piece is a genetic algorithm which makes all musical decisions and realizes the score in real time. The 'note' is the fundamental organism of the system and is defined by a genetic code which includes features such as amplitude, frequency, envelope, pitch clarity, and shift rates. These attributes determine how and when a note expresses itself, and also how a note behaves in relation to is neighbours.
A hierarchical structure is also at work in the system wherein notes belong to gestures, which belong to phrases, which in turn belong to sections. These higher levels are defined by genetic features such as density, central frequency, harmonicity, and rhythmic activity. The genetic features of these higher levels guide the broader course of the music relative to their position in the architecture in much the same way that families, communities, and nations influence their members.
Depending on its genetic profile, a note can be realized in one of two ways: as a filtered sample by the computer, or as a note performed by a live performer. During the performance, the percussionist sight-reads and interprets a musical score from the computer monitor which is generated in real time by the algorithm.
The form of this piece mimics the character of a percussion note such as a cymbal crash. A burst of energy slowly dissipates into a sustained resonance.