CAPTCHA (Baritone Version) - Robert Paterson (Perusal Score)
& – short fermata
Explanation of Notation
, – suggested breath ( , ) – optional breath; pause / – subito (when placed before a dynamic, i.e. / f )
^ – hard accent
I – Let note(s) ring indefinitely until the sound dies out naturally — do not dampen ( ) – All markings in parenthesis are courtesy/cautionary markings.
• All grace notes (including beamed grace notes with slashes) are to be played immediately before the beat they precede. They are to be played very close to the beat and as fast as possible.
• All accidentals last for the entire measure, unless they are canceled out by another accidental (such as a natural sign). Accidentals only apply to the line or space they are on.
• In general, metronome markings should not deviate more than one, or at the most two notches higher or lower from the markings that are printed.
Performance Notes
The vocalist should feel free to be imaginative with regard to pronunciation. The letter ‘r’ may be rolled, if so desired, and certain letters, like the ‘n’ in the word “duchenp,” could be pronounced like an ‘m’. The letters ‘ch’ could be pronounced ‘sh’. ‘Yea’ in Mvt. I may be pronounced as “yeah” or “yey.” For words that contain individual alphabetical letters, ‘Wslykmi’ for example, each letter should be pronounced like a letter in the alphabet, so ‘W’ would be “double-you.” Some of the nonsense words sound like real words when sung, and may be interpreted as such.
Each movement (or section) could sound like it is being sung in a different language (German, Italian, Spanish, etc.), an alien language from another planet, a language from the future, or some or all of the above. In an dramatic sense, each movement may portray an entirely different character. The goal of the work is to make people feel emotional, regardless of whether the words make literal sense or not.
Perusal
CAPTCHA (2012-13)
Program Notes
CAPTCHA originated with an assignment I was given as a participant in the American Opera Projects (AOP) Composers & The Voice program. Throughout the year, we wrote a variety of arias and songs and were given various “challenges.” Some of the challenges included using no more than four lines of text, using found text, using prose, and also trying to avoid the passagio (a term used in classical singing to describe where different voice ranges cross over, for example, where the chest voice and head voice cross). I neglected to incorporate any of the challenges into previous pieces, and I only had one song or aria left, so I had to incorporate all of the remaining challenges into a single piece.
For found text, I decided to use CAPTCHA texts. The term CAPTCHA (for Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart) was coined in 2000 by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University. A CAPTCHA is a program that protects websites against bots by generating and grading tests that only humans can pass. For example, humans can read distorted text presented as a graphic, but current computer programs cannot. To find interesting words and phrases, I spent many tedious hours in front of my computer loading CAPTCHA texts. Actually, what I ended using are reCAPTCHA texts, which are derived from a free version of CAPTCHA that uses combinations of real words from scanned books that need human confirmation and gibberish text.
I initially wrote one song entitled CAPTCHA, but later decided to compose an entire song cycle that incorporates the original song. Each song uses a few key words (the few that are actually real words and phrases) as a springboard. I attempt to phonetically interpret words and phrases that don’t make sense, infusing emotion where none exists. Ultimately, my goal is to create an emotionally moving experience, despite the nonsensical nature of the words.
World Premiere
American Modern Ensemble
Jesse Blumberg, baritone; Blair McMillen, piano
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music
New York, NY, USA December 3, 2013
World Premiere Recording Winter Songs
American Modern Ensemble
American Modern Recordings (2013) AMR1038
Perusal
– Robert Paterson
Cover image collage created from reCAPTCHA’s used in movements II - V.
Duration: ca. 16'
I. duchenp fled
duchenp fled; cens Overtanc ruralso Yea; political arofun 1782, guilded; icserve incredulous alfari weeps; Devillu noun
II. Henry folutch
Henry folutch meitcha who officers ispelec cruel Otauten capture mancisea captured iturnp blood hreerdi Ancipart glass
cemaeve armed varialla approaching invasion essiGen people toxless odomentr power higoopa 666
III. youJusto nicely youJusto nicely position. patchedi Cherry iscibili yenvis touching Erectheum avoional Fillatio founded sfunclu gigantic pectsOR weighty Feervid LENGTH appears Flackl Improper ericsia galord short consequence veybord
