*excerpts from the premiere performance *
Roy O. Disney Theater | Valencia, CA | April 2004
Wayla Chambo, Andrea Lieberherr - flute
Kyle Ross, August Fricia - balinese gongs
Thadeus Frazier-Reed - didgeridoo

the original,live recording
again before 1 - part 1 || 0'13" mp3
the time expansion
again before 1 - part 2|| 6'00" mp3

view the score (pdf)

again before was conceived as a series of pieces all utilizing the following precepts:

Concept:
again before is concerned with the expansion of time of a performance. Both the audio and the time over which the performance takes place are stretched within the piece. A performance of live acoustic instruments is recorded during a concert. As the concert continues, the recorded material is time expanded without changing its pitch. At a later time in the concert the piece is played back in its altered form.

Performance:
The ensemble performs a five to ten second piece and is recorded directly to computer. The ensemble leaves the stage when finished (without bowing) and the concert continues. During the interim, the piece is time stretched to approximately sixty times its original length. Lengths of the performance and time stretching depend on the needs of the performance.

For the second "performance" the ensemble reconvenes on stage. After taking their original positions, the modified soundfile is played back. When complete the ensemble stands, bows and exits the stage.