Only [Harmony Series #17]

"Only [harmony series no. 17]" arose, as part of the whole collection of harmony series pieces, as something of a special case. Each of the other pieces in the series tries to understand harmony as the sum of potential relationships between (human) performers. Consequently in these works, the actual harmonic relations are not prescribed, just the structure for these relationships. "Only" attempts to reframe this question in a different context. Here one is asked, under the aegis of a poem by Kenneth Rexroth, to listen to an environment for a long time, occasionally responding (by making a long tone). In performing the piece, I encounter the following questions: "What, in the sum of things occurring now, do I hear, and how do these things harmonize themselves? How can I express my relation to this harmony as a tone? What effect does this have on my continued listening? How will I spend my time? Do I experience the void or just imagine it?"

Michael Pisaro

Only (PDF)

Sam Sfirri

A small porch in Prague.
6:09PM-6:49PM, August 31, 2009.

Sam Sfirri - Only (40:11) MP3

Ryan Jewell

Afternoon, August 31st, Watson's Bay, Sydney, Australia

Casey Anderson

Laptop. 30/08/2009. 11:00pm – 12:00am. Los Angeles, CA

Casey Anderson - Only (60:00) Loseless
Casey Anderson - Only (60:00) MP3

Jason Brogan

30 August 2009, late evening
Chicago, Illinois

The temperature was unusually cool and a breeze was present throughout the performance in the patio space behind my residence. Stimulated by the winds, the vegetation provided a continuous, rustling accompaniment to my e-bowed tones. Nearby automobiles, dogs and neighbors offered occasional contributions. In addition to Michael Pisaro and Manfred Werder, the performance was dedicated to my sister, whose birthday extended the harmonic complexity of the realization.

Barry Chabala

August 29. 2009 2:00PM at Park's Lake gazebo. Rockaway, NJ

Only - Barry Chabala (32:33) Loseless
Only - Barry Chabala (32:33) MP3

Manfred Werder

28th of August, 3:32 pm to 5:37 pm
Gessner-Garten of the Old Botanical Garden, Zürich.
Performance: Manfred Werder
Audience: Passer-by visiters of the Botanical Garden.

Bright sun, around 27°C. A strong wind moved the clouds which produced beautiful and abrupt light changes. The whole flora in the Gessner-Garten, on a little hill centrally located in the inner city, was sounding, moved by the winds - all plants and trees with their each different white noises, and all that mixed with the sounds of near traffic and city life. Getting lost in the great late summer abundance of the garden's vegetation.