Manuel Rodríguez Valenzuela

<41>, for 2 apprehension engines and live electronics (2021-22)

The instruments are built and redesigned by the composer himself and are based on composer Mark Korven's original model. The “apprehension engine” is basically a resonant wooden body to which are added many different sound objects that are amplified by contact microphones. These amplified sounds are in turn transformed by live digital effects. Some of these sound objects are, for example, a kind of hurdy gurdy, a kind of 3-string electric guitar, a reverb tank, various springs, music boxes, metal rods that bounce in different rhythms, etc. The complete list of objects and materials can be seen in the graphic below:

The work revolves around a broad idea of intertextuality, through the simulation/combination of music/sound recordings (samples) and a personal idea of honesty in creation that the composer has been developing in recent years. The estimated duration is about 12 and a half minutes.

Staging: Both musicians play opposite each other. A camera (analogue to minimize latency) in an overhead shot records the image of both instruments live from above. The projection seeks to show in detail the sound production of each living object/instrument. This is done on a translucent white stage gauze placed in front of both musicians, between them and the audience, which allows the interpretation of both musicians to be seen through it:

Full score available here

Recording available at: