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Live online its the Blank Canvas Octet March 2023

 50:50 Online project present The Blank Canvas Octet Live on Zoom weekly during March 2023

Introduction

50:50 online is a `telematic` project, that is it is a live streamed event via the internet. The current platform is zoom.us.
The ensemble employs system 50:50 to deliver music that is related to the genre:  `free improvisation in music `

There is a schedule for weekly events during this month in 2023, the day of the week is wednesday, the times are: `Doors open` 19.00 UTC  session starts 19.30 UTC
and here are the dates.

  • Wednesday, March 1, 2023
  • Wednesday, March 8, 2023
  • Wednesday, March 15, 2023
  • Wednesday, March 22, 2023
  • Wednesday, March 29, 2023

The regular sessions are for participants and project associates and three audicence members.
A series of Octets will be made from the set list. For example, were there to be twelve improvisers on the set list, four would sit out one set as a member of the audience and there would be three sets of improvised music. Everyone will play, but not necessarily in every set.

This project is rewarding and a success. It allow improvisers from around the country to meet. play together on a weekly basis.
Feel the potential!

The Blank Canvas Octet is a project exploring free ensemble improvisation in music in a large ensemble context. It uses the ‘system 50:50` - where chess clocks are used to bring cohesion to the sound field which can often become cluttered. The result is a dynamic and shifting canvas of sound that allows small discreet sounds to be heard and deeper layers to be felt and expressed. An exciting project to participate in, to witness and to hear.

Charlie Collins, improviser, Sheffield wrote on system 50:50 “Definitely something with LOADS of possibilities - the reaction in the car driving back was unbelievably positive - no one could remember playing in a large ensemble that was so "open". The openness allowed me to play quietly, which meant the dynamics were incredible for an improvising large ensemble.” -

Another point of listening comes from Simon Ross, Macclesfield. `System 50/50 works well - it’s a really good way to get a group to play effectively without egos, virtuosity, and shyness getting in the way. It is democratic, inclusive, coherent, leaderless, focused, there is room to think and time to listen, choices. It is less competitive and more cooperative. Ends well.`

The Blank Canvas Octet during this month in 2023 will feature the following, more or less:

CLAYTON JACKSON, electronics and objects, Silverdale
GARFIELD SOUTHALL, guitar, Chester
GEOFF BRIGHT, reeds, Sheffield
GILL WHITELEY, strings, Sheffield : website
GUILLERMO TORRES, sound, Spain.
LYN HODNETT, voice, Wales & other
MARTIN HACKETT, Korg Ms, Oxford
PHIL MORTON, accidents and treatments, Liverpool
PAUL MEDLEY. clarinet, Oxford
CHRIS PARFITT, misc, Bridgend, Wales
IRENE IZQUIERDO, voice, Berlin
ROBIN HARTWELL, liverpool.

lapsed members; DAN GOREN, trumpet, Chipping Norton, Nick Branton, reeds, Liverpool. SABINE KUSMAUL, guitar, Macclesfield

Free tickets and information for audience members

Interested in just listening in, being a member of an audience? You can do this once a month, on the last Wednesday of the month.

Tickets

Tickets for audience members are available at Eventbrite:
For the correct and up to date Eventbrite link please visit the Eventbrite tab in this article.
Or let us know by sending an email to: philmorton at improvisersnetwork.co.uk

What is on offer?

  • You are invited to join the online session. 
  • First time
    • You need to a conversation about the session and what is involved.
    • This is a `once only` meeting usually an hour before the session starts
    • For first timers and strangers this is not negotiable.
  • Repeat attenders.
    • No need to join the meeting before the session
    • You will be sent the zoom link for the session.
  • During the session
    • During the session, when the Octet are playing you have you audio muted and video feed switched off.
    • At other times, the microphone settings and video settings are optional. You can be sociable.
  • Done

What you need

  • A compuer
  • Broadband
  • A basic understanding of how zoom works.
  • An audio system that allows you to listen to the session

Information: how an improviser, musician can participate as a `Ghost`

The short story is.
If `free ensemble improvisation` is new to you or you may wish to engage discreetly with the Blank Canvas Octet you can be a `ghost`
A ghost participates in the session discreetly by muting their input to the session.
A ghost can interact with the live feed from the Blank Canvas Octet in their own space but not fill the sound field of the zoom performance.

Phil Morton writes, this an excellent opportunity yet to be tested for musicians who wish to explore improvisation whose histories and experience of free ensemble improvisation is thin, who are yet to acquire a composure in a free ensemble improvisation sound world environment. It can be experienced as a development process that can be added to or replace the practice of attending workshops. It is available weekly. The player can learn by `doing` . The availability of attendance is regular, frequent, it is weekly.

Alternatively: if the session is `full` an improvisers may attend: as a `ghost` or audience member as an alternative to the dissapointment of not attending.
System 50:50 is a simple process but sometimes simplicity maybe a challenge. Ghosting introduces all improvisers to system 50;50 in a safe environment. You can test and try system 50:50.

Tickets for audience members and ghosts

are available at Eventbrite: For the correct and up to date Eventbrite link please visit the Eventbrite tab in this article

Event information for active participants:

Weekly on a Wednesday during this month in 2023 and for the forseeable future.

"Doors" 19.00 BST
Sound check 19.10 - 19.30 BST
Concert starts 19.30 BST duration 40 minutes maximum

An online participatory event hosted by the web application ZOOM,us

Interested? Register here

Further Information for participating improvisers.

Interested?

if you are interested in this project as a participant let us know by completing the form below and we will be in touch

Top tips for the form

  • Please confirm the name of the event that interests you?
    • Suggested script: 5050 Online Blank Canvas Octet
  • Date
    • Either add a specific date that falls on a Wednesday or simply put any Wednesday

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add your name to the contact list for this project and receive newsletters: .*
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Tickets at Eventbrite

Eventbrite

Individual can attend the sessions, within the zoom framework, once per month, usually the last Wednesday of the month.
You will need access to the hardware and software to attend the online sessions.
If this is an obstacle let us know.

  • The following link will take you to the host eventbrite account Improvisers networks online
  • This will display a list of events, one of which is Blank Canvas octet Online, click on that option
  • The Eventbrite tickets list is displayed here

 

Video

The Blank Canvas octet
The nature and practice of free ensemble improvisation using System
50:50
Duration 6 minutes
Tacet 3 minutes
Free play 3 minutes
12 players

 

Office use

Object: Eventbrite page, target London

Ensemble 50:50 London explores the innovative System 5050 for Improvisers
Developed by Phil Morton over a period of twenty years.
If you have tried this method or want to know more you can attend as a member of the audience a zoom session with The Blank Canvas Octet. The Octet has been meeting and working with system 50:50 for improvisers every week since May 2020.
Tickets (limited to three) to attend are available  at Eventbrite.
 

Object: Eventbrite page, all regions, local to global

The Blank Canvas Octet Online explores the innovative System 5050 for Improvisers
Developed by Phil Morton over a period of twenty years.
If you have tried this method or want to know more you can attend as a member of the audience a zoom session with The Blank Canvas Octet. The Octet has been meeting and working with system 50:50 for improvisers every week since May 2020.
Tickets (limited to three) to attend are available  at Eventbrite.
 

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