Melismatic Murmuration #1-III (2022/2023) - David S. Ifland & Joseph S. Lyons [World Premiere]

"Melismatic Murmurations" began in 2022 as a series of electroacoustic improvisations for open instrumentation and interactive electronics. This ongoing series was initially developed by saxophonist and composer Joseph S. Lyons as well as sound designer and audio engineer David S. Ifland (​⁠‪@D.S.I.S.D‬). The title of Melismatic Murmurations is derived from the real-life flocking patterns of starlings which are called murmurations. Starling murmurations do not have designated leaders, nor is the exact flight path determined in advance. Rather, the flock spontaneously and instinctually makes these decisions as a group. The result is that these flocks seldom fly in an organized formation and instead take the shape of amorphous blobs that can suddenly and drastically change form as a result of seemingly any internal or external stimulus. "Melismatic Murmurations" is a musical representation of this capricious and mesmerizing natural phenomenon.
"Melismatic Murmuration #1" is a solo improvisation with interactive electronics and was premiered by Lyons on October 14, 2022 at the American Single Reed Summit hosted at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. In this first version that was originally performed on soprano saxophone, Ifland provided Lyons with a handful of gestures on which to improvise as well as a VCV patch that randomized the playback effects of Lyons’ amplified sound whenever he crossed a predetermined voltage threshold in a process called transient-detection.
To learn more about "Melismatic Murmurations," please visit www.josephslyons.com/tech-tonl.
This world premiere performance of the third iteration of the first installment of "Melismatic Murmurations" took place on February 20, 2023 during Joseph S. Lyons' 1st DMA Solo Recital at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.
A/V Production by Joseph S. Lyons

[@jimtownsend8010]

Really really cool, and great use of technology ...from a fellow musician: Really nice

[@JosephSLyons]

@@jimtownsend8010 Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it! There’s a whole playlist on my channel for this series if you wanna hear more stuff like this.