This is live recording of the composition premiere from the first international festival of micro-tonal music in Zagreb "miCROfest 2016". 
Written by: Zoran Šćekić
Performed by: Zagreb Quartet, Ana Žgur (piano), Luka Grubišić – Čabo (audio & video technology)
Producer: Andrijana Filipović

Composition "Tempus spectrale" is written for piano tuned in Just intonation, string quartet and Federation bells, a sound installation in the city of Melbourne consisting of 32 harmonic and 7 poly-ton bells tuned in 7 limit Just intonation. Bells and piano together have 16 different pitches per octave including two different pitches for tones Ab, G, Bb and C.
Considering the fact that Federation bells are not mobile instrument, this composition can be performed only in 3 different ways:
- Musicians can play with the Federation bells in the city of Melbourne or
- Musicians can play with the playback of the bells samples or
- Musicians can play in real time with the bells via Network music performance.
In case of playing with the playback of the bells samples there is a simple MOV file with stereo sound incorporated in video. On the left channel is electronic part of the composition and on the right channel is metronome. Video (virtual conductor) and right channel (metronome) are only for musicians and left channel (Federation bells) is for the audience. Video should be played on video screen turned forward musicians.
Right channel should be played through the headphones (each musicians must have his own headphones and must see the video screen). Left channel, containing bells, must be played through all available PA laud speakers balanced with musicians performing acoustically. The whole configuration can be used for rehearsals as well.
Left channel - Federation bells (for audience and for musicians)
Right channel - metronome (only for musicians)
Video - virtual conductor (only for musicians)
The composition shares two major aspects: microtonal intonation and polyrhythmic structure. Instruments and samples tuning belongs to microtonal area called Just intonation. Octave division is based on 7 limit intervals producing 16 different tones per octave including small ratios like syntonic comma. Just intonation features far stronger contrast between consonant and dissonant intervals in relation to 12 tone equal temperament, what increases the expressive possibilities and sets different harmony principles characteristic for this composition. Polyrhythmic structure is based on the same intervals as chords. For example, the frequencies ratio for major triad is 4/5/6. So, the analogue rhythmic structure for major triad would consist of quarter notes, quarter note quintuplet and quarter note triplets.
Increasing the complexity of the harmony structure, increases the complexity of the polyrhythmic structure beyond human interpretation capability so it must be performed by computer. Rhythm complexity doesn't allow to listener to follow the tempo, but forces him to “flow” with the music.

"Tempus Spectrale" (part 0, 1, 2 & 3)

Johannes Kotschy:
AnRa, op. 24/1 (1987)
Werner Karlinger – Harfe

Kotschy: AnRa

Tomaž Svete:
Lilium pedibus detrue
Mitschnitt beim Konzert "Neue Klangfarben und Tonmalereien I", Maribor / Slowenien, 25.5.2009
Slavko Kovačič – Klarinette, Lev Pupis – Saxophon, Žarko Ignjatović – Gitarre, Larisa Čanji – Klavier

"Tempus Spectrale" (part 0, 1, 2 & 3)

Zoran Scekic

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