Beidt Uw Tyd, Duur Uw Minuut
Unconducted Orchestra (c.1 min)
Beidt Uw Tyd… was composed for the Residentie Orkest as part of their One Minute Symphony series. The title of the work is derived from the two phrases engraved on the towers of the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, ‘bide your time’ and ‘take your hour’, the latter of which was readapted for the project as ‘take your minute’.
The piece is a highly conceptual work, intending to shine a light on the paradox of experiential musical time by removing traditional time-keeping, and allowing each musician’s unique and individual perception of ‘one minute’ to guide the piece to its conclusion.
There is no conductor, pulse or metre to guide the musicians through their individual parts, but instead they must play their material for as long as they feel one minute lasts, independently of one another. After each musicians feels that one minute has passed, they finish by playing a single note and putting their instrument down. Despite its unconventional nature, the piece was well-received by the members of the Residentie Orkest who fully committed themselves to the concept.
Instrumentation:2.2.2.3(III=cbsn)/4.2.3.0/timp.perc/str
