(today’s) or (this year’s)

entrances and exits

2020

score

set up

this piece requires live access to this website

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

this website features live statistics about world populations.
the website should be projected for the audience to see.
each performer should have the website open to read the statistics on a laptop, tablet or phone. if the music is memorised could read from the projection.

both performers should decide on a ‘today’ version or a ‘this year’ version. The ‘today’ version both performers read the live counts for today.
the ‘this year’ version both performers read the live counts for this year. whatever version the performers pick the title should reflect this in the concert programme if there is one.

the piece should last between 60 and 100 seconds. use an egg timer or similar equipment to time this.

performance

the singer reads the live birth count. the pianist reads the live death count.

the pianist reads out the “current deaths today” number then plays the first chord written in the score. the pianist then reads the next number and plays the next chord. a chord should be played quietly and sustained until the next chord is played.

the singer sings the first number at the first given pitch, the second number at the second pitch etc. the singer sings the numbers as fast as they can read them.

the numbers move incredibly fast. the performers should find their own strategies for dealing with this. if a number has changed to such a degree that the performer would need to restart saying/singing the number they may do so. the most important element of the action of replicating the statistic is to convey the number rising and the rate at which it is increasing to the audience.

there should be no coordination between the two performers except in starting the piece.
when the timer finishes both performers stop immediately no matter what part of their sequence they are on.

(optional)

a longer version of this piece may exist for as long as the performers are willing to play. A performance lasting 24 hours is possible by swapping performers. likewise with a month etc.