Primordial Glitches


for Electronics Ensemble

Approx. 8-10 minutes in duration

Version 1 completed 12/6/19 in Baton Rouge, LA.

Version 2 completed 10/05/2020 in Baton Rouge, LA.

Premiered November, 2020 by the Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, LA.

As they arose from the primordial ooze, they did not know what to do with themselves.

Other Performances

  • Electric Latex 2022 (Houston, TX)

  • UNO 2025 (Omaha, NE)

Version 1: Live Performances (Mac Compatible only)

Primordial Glitches is a Max 8 instrument that can be downloaded for free here. (Stereo Version)

Each performer (4-16) outputs a drone file and triggers short grains based on text instructions in the patch. They alter between short blips and evolving drones.

The mono version, which defaults to the left channel output from the computer, can be downloaded for free here.

Version 2: Telematic Controls (Mac and Windows compatible)

Version 2 is designed to be performed by multiple performers (4-16 +1) over networked internet connections. The files can be downloaded for free here. One device should be used to output the audio either in a live space or streamed online.

There should be up to 16 performers and one receiver/streamer as outlined below for this version to work as intended

Performers should open up the “Primordial_Glitches_Control” patch (colored purple) and enter the IP address and desired port of the destination computer. The performers then create messages with key strokes based on the on-screen text; identically to version 1. Sounds are generated locally on the performer’s device as real-time feedback of message generation, but not transmitted to the destination computer.

The destination computer needs to run the “Primordial_Glitches_Recieve” patch (colored red). The performer needs to set the desired port to receive the messages from the control patches on. After beginning the audio, this patch receives and routes all incoming messages from the internet to 16 different instances of the version 1 patch (colored gray) Audio is triggered and generated in each of these instances and run through a binaural mixer before being output. The output can be either through speakers in a live performance or to sent to another place on the internet.

This is the premiere recording. It was much more glitchy and distorted than planned, but it has a unique charm. The glitchy distortion had never happened before, and to this day no one involved was able to figure out what caused it or been able to recreate it in any of the other performances. The video at the top of this page represents the intended effect, and was taken from a rehearsal a few days prior to the concert.

These are some screenshots from the “work in progress” version of the max patches.