Tlön by Mark Applebaum; Sam Houston Percussion Group

Sam Houston Percussion Group, Directed by John Lane.
NOTES BY MARK APPLEBAUM: Tlön is scored for three conductors and no players. Based on my experience of once observing a virulent argument in sign language-which was affectively loud but produced no decibels to speak of, I sought to explore the articulation of traditional musical parameters (namely rhythm, dynamics, and polyphonic texture) in visual rather than aural terms. The piece is at once music and choreographed dance.
A particular fascination for me is the fact that the piece always elicits an imagined sound among audience members. But while our experience of a conventional piece of music will only be marginally different among two audience members sitting next to one another (due to variations in their precise acoustical positioning, the shape of their outer ears, the type and degree of their inevitable lifetime hearing degradation, and, most profoundly if mysteriously, the accreted wisdom of past musical experience-and emotional outlook-that they bring to bear on their cognition), in Tlön audience members "hear" (imagine) remarkably disparate sounds. A vigorous downbeat might suggest a dissonant, clangorous orchestral cluster for one viewer, and a sunny major chord played by wind ensemble for another. The piece seems to problematize not only the boundaries of instrumentation but of musical ontology.

[@Elestin]

I enjoy this when I go for jogs, it's always my "Get Motivated" music.

[@stevenw.miguel]

This is my go to song when I’m going through a rough patch in life....always lifts my spirits

[@drummerpablo1]

beyond excellent. i can't wait to hear their cover of 4:33.

[@sgtgiggles]

Nikelback did a cover of this. It was by far one of the best songs they’ve ever done

[@abcrtzyn]

Favorite song ever

[@chesseswar]

Y!!!! M! C! A!

[@KarstenJohansson]

This is a cacophone. You can't just take a John Cage piece, double the measures and have 3 orchestras play it simultaneously like that!

[@gdathincrist8651]

Woah woah, save some women for the rest of us

[@joewest343]

2:45 *Fart*

3:23, 3:24

[@psyche8688]

3:17 again

[@prestokrevlar]

Why.

[@AnthonyLeighDunstan]

In Mark's TED-talk he explains this piece was "based on the experience of actually watching two people having a virulent argument in sign language which produced no decibels to speak of but affectively and psychologically was a very loud experience." I think this is a very interesting premise. I've had a similar experience watching a soprano perform from the confines of a soundproof room. I found it similarly responsive in the idea further than Cage of perceived sound rather than actual sound.

[@maycollenrique3963]

Increíble

[@Visuwyg]

Deep.

[@giuliopianese6690]

The only piece of music that cannot save from Vecna

[@DJTechno94]

the coughing distracted me from the delightful musical piece!

[@drummerpablo1]

also: when they pull out the batons they look like wizards.

[@TheresNeverReason]

They are

[@joelmonteirodacunhasalgado4893]

Are they conducting the same piece (the same music sheet) or...no..?

[@Ashleigh_Gradel]

This kinda reminds me of having two drum majors...

[@JohnLanePercussion]

Each player has a different part, but all parts are on the same score.