Loose Change (BMI)
by Dan Senn

Loose Change, for Four Changing Scrapercussionists and Changing Conductor, is written for five performers who alternate in three character roles: Scrapercussion Player, Leader of the Scrapercussion players, and Conductor. As given in the Performance Table, the piece is in seven sections, Section Zero through Section Six, with the performers changing roles sequentially. You will note in the Performance Table on page three that Player E begins as the first Conductor in Section One and then replaces Player A in Section Two. After two sections as a Player alone, Player E becomes the Leader in Section Six. This sequence of role changes, with varying starting points and Scrapercussion limb positions, is the same for all performers.

Simple Relationships between the Conductor, the Leader and the Players must first be understood. As the Conductor performs the prescribed activities given in the Change Table, she or he seems to conduct the Players unintentionally. The Scrapercussion Leader acts as both the "eyes" for the group and the initial interpreter of the associated percussive textures. Here is an example. When the Conductor goes to the chair to "Pick up the newspaper." at change #3, the gesture acts as cue for the Leader to initiate the sound texture at the same level in the Change Table. As the new texture is performed by the Leader, the remaining three Players, with instructions to imitate the player to their right, eventually follow suit.

This Unintentional Conducting is an essential part of the conductor's character. Because the Conductor(s), the Leader(s), and the Players are restrained only by the given instructions, (and, of course, the performance practice of our time), these cues must remain uniform between the Conductors. Beyond this, each Conductor will interpret the instructions individually and, therefore, adjust timings to their own tastes.

Descrete Levels of Perception between characters must be carefully maintained throughout and are given below

• The Conductor is aware of the Players and occasionally of the audience when, for example, she or he is directed to break character at change #8 in the Change Table. As each section evolves, the Conductor identifies and replaces the Leader but at first, the Leader and the Players are perceived as one.
• The Leader is only aware of the Conductor.
• The Players are only aware of the Scrapercussion Player to their right.

The performers, while in these roles, are oblivious to all other action with two exceptions: 1) Players A through D enter the performance space unaware of each other or the audience, and, 2) at the conclusion of Section Five, all performers are aware of each other and the spilled change as they "scramble madly, greedily for the loot." These levels of consciousness may or may not be clear to the audience, but they are essential to the performance.

Performance Setup

 
Click diagram to see Scrapercussion #8 photo.

• See assembly instructions for Scrapercussion #8.
• See Performance Table
• See Change Table

Full score is available from:
Newsense Intermedium 
990 NW 161st Terrace
Beaverton, OR 97006
email: newsense@newsense-intermedium.com

MAIN INDEX