Instructions for a music composition for any number of players, makings sounds with any preferred type of instrument or other sound source.

Version 0.7

1. Choose one sheet of notated music, and give a copy to each player.
2. Set the exact length of the piece.
3. Every player determines individually for him/herself a code of how to read and interpret the notated music. The code has to adhered to rigoruously during performance.
4. Play.

Please note:
Players do not need the ability to read traditionally notated music. Every player determines a strict way of how to read the signs and interpret these on the instrument(s) and/or sound sources that he/she plays. It is not necessary to discuss the chosen code with the others in the ensemble before the performance, but it is not forbidden either. It is not necessary to rehearse, but it is not forbidden either. Do not change the code during performance for any reason – e.g. because something else turns out to sound better with what the other(s) are doing. Any code is permitted. It is not necessary to interpret all the signs of the notation; (the viola also does not play all the notes of a notated string quartet).

We’ll do this with Oorbeek at the Notations-festival. We tried it yesterday with the first prelude from Robert de Visée’s Livre des Pieces pour la Guittarre (1686) – in the original notation. It worked better that I had expected.

At some point during rehearsal the drummer asked: “So I could also read each letter as a sign for a specific genre, like funk, afro-beat, punk? and then play a characteristic lick for a couple of measures.” “… Euh, hmm, yes… as long as you follow that code rigorously, you could.”