Saunders, J (2025) having to carry out the repetitive, mind-numbingly boring but still very necessary tasks required to manage increasingly complicated processes of production.
Score (321kB) |
| Item Type: | Composition |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Saunders, J |
| Abstract: | having to carry out the repetitive, mind-numbingly boring but still very necessary tasks required to manage increasingly complicated processes of production (2025) is part of a series of pieces that explores purposeless work. In the piece, the large ensemble players individually work through a looping set of sustained sounds, following commands given by their choice of player in the small ensemble which tell them when to move to the next sound. This cycle is sporadically interrupted by longer organ drones which reset the process. Although the small ensemble players are given some control, they do not know the effect of their cues on the actions of the large ensemble players. Equally, the large ensemble players must keep cycling through their sounds, following increasingly complicated routes through the material. The organist is autonomous and can halt this process, but is in turn halted by the small ensemble. There is an illusion of purpose and organisation, but essentially this is arbitrary. There are coercive rules to follow that shape the behaviours and culture of the players, but no indication of any goals or results to achieve. I am interested in playing with aspects of institutional behaviour, where an organsiational structure tasks its workers with clearly defined jobs which are obligatory but may have little obvious purpose. The title comes from David Graeber’s book Bullshit Jobs. It is well worth reading. |
| Official URL: | https://www.james-saunders.com/having-to-carry-out... |
| Date: | 4 April 2025 |
| Funders: | nyMusikk (Norway) |
| Note: | Commissioned by nyMusikk. First performed by asamisimasa, Kitchen Orchestra, Insimul and Nils Henrik Asheim at Stavanger Konserthus as part of Only Connect on 4 April 2025. |
| Subjects: | M Music and Books on Music > M Music |
| Divisions: | Bath School of Music and Performing Arts |
| Research Centres and Groups: | OpenScores Lab Research Group |
| Date Deposited: | 20 May 2025 13:52 |
| Last Modified: | 20 May 2025 13:52 |
 |
Request a change to this item or report an issue |
 |
Update item (repository staff only) |
Tools
Tools
