Game Theory (Orkestra Futura)
I am (for better or worse) someone who has been trained in economics, and game theory, for the better part of 6 years. But this is not your traditional microeconomics game theory. It’s a whole different Game Theory. New Orchestra Workshop and The Western Front present a fantastic rollercoaster ride as 7 directors from 3 separate locations across North America take turns directing Orkestra Futura via Stefan Smulovitz’s innovative software program Mad Scientist Machine. Sounds crazy, eh? But it appears like it will be super cool.
New Orchestra Workshop Society with The Western Front presents Orkestra Futura performing Game Theory. Will take place April 1st and 2nd at 8:00 pm at The Western Front, 303 8thAvenue, Vancouver. Tickets are $15 general, $12 NOW members & $5 for students; available through the NOW website.
The confirmed directors include: Sarah Weaver, Lisle Ellis and Todd Reynolds (all New York), Paul Cram (Halifax) and in Vancouver Coat Cooke, Giorgio Magnanensi and the mad scientist inventor himself Smulovitz. The Orchestra will feature a stellar ensemble of improvisers, including DB Boyko (voice), Smulovitz (laptop electronics), Chad MacQuarrie (guitar, radio, electronics), Tommy Babin (bass), Kenton Loewen (drums) and Cooke (leader and saxophones). The concerts will also feature instant dance and choreography by the acclaimed dancer Delia Brett.
In addition, the concerts will feature new game pieces created by Orkestra Futura’s Artistic Director Coat Cooke. But what are game pieces?
Under the direction of Coat Cooke, Orkestra Futura will explore the world of “game compositions”. The two concerts, each a unique event, will use Stefan Smulovitz’s innovative Mad Scientist Machine, a program that enables conductors from around North America to collaborate with live musicians performing in real time at The Western Front. The concerts will build on Smulovitz’s experience of working with the software in Vancouver and more recently in Greece and feature four internet conductors who will participate through Skype, including Sarah Weaver and Lisle Ellis from New York and Paul Cram from Halifax. They will collaborate with local conductors Smulovitz and Cooke.
The Mad Scientist Machine is a platform that provides conductors with seven separate cues that they can relay remotely to the performers in real time. The conductors are able to layer or isolate at will and the process allows for a great deal of specificity in the creation of the piece. It permits excellent improvisers, to interpret, interact, interject and express in a personal way to the impulses suggested by the conductor.
Orkestra Futura will feature the ensemble of DB Boyko (voice), Stefan Smulovitz (laptop electronics), Chad MacQuarrie (guitar, radio, electronics), Tommy Babin (bass), Kenton Loewen (drums) and Coat Cooke (leader and saxophones). In addition, the concerts will feature instant dance and choreography by acclaimed dancer Delia Brett and new game pieces created by Coat Cooke.
And I have a pair of tickets to give away for this concert. All you have to do is drop a comment on this post indicating that you’re interested in attending the show and I’ll add you to the draw. I’ll draw a winner on Friday morning (April 1st) at 11am
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A video performance artist friend of mine in Vancouver works with a similar piece of software called “Isadora” – musicians and dancers can trigger random visual and sonic overlays via sound and movement improvisation. It all seems very technical. When everything works properly, it’s pretty cool.
I would love to go – this sounds fascinating!