Скачать или смотреть SQ2 - Ligeti Quartet

Realization of SQ2 by the Ligeti Quartet (https://ligetiquartet.com/) as part of the weekly Lunchtime Concert Series at University of Liverpool.

Programme Notes:

SQ2 is a multiplayer digital game piece for string quartet. It may also be played by another quartet of performers that are capable of producing sustained pitch with at least a one-octave range and varying degrees of loudness. The goal of the piece is to work together to explore and facilitate growth within the virtual environment while also making musical decisions that complement the rest of the ensemble.

Players interact with the game world of SQ2 via four luminescent orbs. When a player makes sound (above a loudness threshold), their corresponding orb charges up energy. When a player stops making sound, the charged energy is emitted as a circular pulse, which propels the player forward and collides with nearby objects. Furthermore, energy pulses can be tuned with pitch classes to resonate with particular targets.

Players may create energy pulses as long as they have stamina remaining; if a player’s stamina is fully depleted, they must wait until it fully recharges before creating another pulse. As the game progresses, the players’ stamina reserves increase, resulting in the possibility of more consecutive pulses and thus farther and more continuous movement. The position of resonant targets in relation to the players provides a melodic and harmonic framework, though ultimately the players are free to decide how they want to realize sound within this framework and may even choose to ignore it at times.

The game ends either when 1) the performers achieve the goal score and collectively maintain a long period of silence or 2) the (optional) time limit expires and the game is manually faded out.