PATTERSON, BEN - Drip Music/370 Flies

Gerge Brecht Drip Music (1959). Realization by Ben Patterson, 2002. As the author wrote in the liner notes: Recently, as I was preparing a concert of classic Fluxus works, I decided to re-examine the original scores, rather than rely on my memory of preformances of the traditional interpretations of these works. Thus, I discovered that George Brechts original instructions for Drip Music allowed for both a single source or multiple sources of dripping water. Remembering Georges first career as a chemist, employing laboratory equipment to produce multiple, dripping sources seemed appropriate. A device was constructed including 3 gerbil water bottles suspended from metal rods and a piece of molded plastic packaging, amplified with contact microphone. Only micro adjustments were made to provide differing drip frequencies. No electro-acoustic manipulations or editorial tricks. Also included is Ben Patterson 370 Flies (2003), dedicated to the double-bassist Sylvester Paumgartner (178?-18??) for inspiring this work. A list of artificial flies names read over the sound loops derived from the fourth movement of Franz Schuberts String Quintet, D 667 op. post. 114, the Trout Quintet. An artificial fly is included on front cover, while a reproduction of the Drip Music score is stamped on the back cover. CDR edition limited to 200 signed copies. - Alga Marghen.