Occam's Machete by Elliott Sharp

Occam's Machete is an algorithmic composition for 24 strings performing as SysOrk using simple instruction sets to yield a progression of sonic tableaux. Shifting dronalities are created by the movement of simultaneous verticalities. Microtonal intervals generate difference tone microrhythms, subliminal melodies, and "ghost instruments", a psychoacoustic phenomenon. Every performance will have a unique manfestation of internal detail while remaining identical in form. Occam's Machete was performed in one continuous movement and the recording may be heard that way or in sections. This release also includes Nero Code, a composition for four contrabasses.
 
Occam's Machete was performed and recorded on October 12, 2023 at Main Drag Music, Brooklyn along with Nero Code. Main Drag's basement performance space has high ceilings with stairways and catwalks extending from top to bottom. It's a reflective room with a wonderful sound for acoustic instruments. For an immersive sonic experience, the musicians were situated throughout the space with the contrabasses on the stage flanked by the celli and violas and violins around the perimeters and up on the verticals. This piece is meant to be heard in performance in a resonant acoustic space though this recording is able to manifest one version. The ensemble included members of JACK, Sirius, Flux, and Bergamot string quartets.

VIOLINS: Sarah Bernstein, Tom Chiu, Jean Cook. On Ka'a Davis, Shaleah Feinstein, Ledah Finck, Chern Hwei Fung,  Joanna Mattrey, Aimee Niemann, Sana Nagano,  Sarah Thomas

VIOLAS: Judith Insell, Ron Lawrence, Jessica Pavone,  John Pickford Richards, Amy Huimei Tan

CELLOS: Irene Han, Hao Jiang, Chris Otto, Alex Waterman

CONTRABASSES: Shayna Dulberger, Kyle Motl, Kevin Ray, John Andrew Wilhite

The performance and recording was produced by Anti-Social Music and was supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Elliott Sharp: composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, author, leads Orchestra Carbon, Tectonics and Terraplane with compositional strategies including fractal geometry, chaos theory, and genetic metaphors as well as new techniques for graphic notation to yield work that catalyzes a synesthetic approach to musicmaking as well as functioning as retinal art.