Pyramid tala

Alex McLean (Then Try This)*; Matt Davies (-)

Image credit: Alex McLean (Then Try This)*; Matt Davies (-)

• Live Performance
• Paper PDF link
• Presence: In person
• Room Location: Rich Mix Stage
• Session: Concert 5

Abstract:

A collaboration between a live coder and drummer, focussed on exploring the “pyramid tala” introduced by celebrated mridangam player B C Manjunath. This rhythmic cycle consists of inter-onset intervals (IOIs) of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, adding up to a total of fifteen beats. This exploration will be explicitly algorithmic, in the sense of taking a systematic approach to improvisation, combining and transforming elements to create complex wholes from simple parts. This algorithmic theme will be developed not only through code, but through direct manipulation of physical playing via instrumental and vocal ‘konnakol’ patterns.