Dice Music

D8D12D10D4D20

Solo Version
Composed by Patrick Duvall (2015)
To Prepare this piece you must follow all the preparation steps in addition to both Process
one and Process 2.
As general Terminology I will refer to the Dice as yDx, x meaning the number of sides it
has. For example, a six-sided die is a D6, an 8-sided die is a D8, etc. etc. y corresponds to the
number of times you will roll that die during Process 1, for example, 5d8 means you roll the d8 5
times.
In addition, Instruments will refer to any object that you use that can make a sound.
If you must due to constraints of time, you may predetermine the amount of time in the
piece, however you must still follow every step of Process 1 to still present the piece in its full
form
Pre-Performance Preparation
All Pre-Performance Preparation Steps should be completed weeks before a performance if
possible.
1) Find 8 instruments to use for the performance, these may be anything that can make a
sound, be they conventional instruments, found objects of any type or even digital sound
producing objects or instruments. Label your instruments 1 to 8, bare these numberings in
mind or write them down.
2) Find as many unique sounds as possible on each instrument, unique Timbres, pitches,
Textures, feelings, or methods of producing sounds, explore these and note them to be
used in the performance in the event you play that instrument. I would recommend going
wild, scratch, blow, draw, drag, hit, destroy, whatever gets a sound that is different from
the other sounds that instrument can make.
3) Prepare a Radio to drone behind you during the performance. The radio can be of any
type if it functions and can access some sort of channel. The Radio will be important
during the performance of the piece.
4) Have a method of Tracking time in the performance. Such as a stopwatch, a clock can
work in a pinch. Do not attempt the performance without a method to keep track of the
passage of time.
5) It isn’t necessary, BUT it would be recommended to have something to write information
on, a pencil and paper for example. This will be handy during Process 1 in writing down
the necessary structure of the piece for Process 2

Optional 1) If you would like to prepare more instruments, you may prepare 10, 12, or 20 instruments, in
this case you will pick 6, 10 or 20 instruments respectively in process 2, step 1. For process 2, step 1 in
this situation, roll the corresponding dice.
 Process 1
All Processes must be done on Stage for the Performance
Write down information as you need to
You must roll your dice onto your instruments to produce sounds, try to make as much
sound as possible when you roll your dice onto your instruments

1) Roll 5d8 to determine which 5 instruments you will use in your performance. The
order you roll these instruments will be the order you play them in process 2.
2) Roll 5d4 to determine how many minutes you will play for each instrument. Each roll
corresponds to the instrument in the order they are to be played, roll 1 applies to the
first instrument for example. These times will determine how long you will play each
instrument as well as the total time of the piece during process 2. The piece may be
no shorter than 5 minutes or longer than 20.
3) Roll 1d20 to determine the number of sounds you may make for each instrument. One
number applies to all instruments, and a sound may last as long or short as the nature
of the sound allows. You must keep count in your head during process 2 of the
sounds you will make for each instrument.
4) If your instrument follows Western Tonality and you are not using the instrument to
create atonal sounds. Then you must roll to determine which Trichord you will use
during the performance. Refer to the Chart
Roll 1d8 pitch This will determine the trichord you will play with that instrument. A
1 A Tri Chord is defined in this context as the natural, flat, and sharp of a
2 B single pitch class. If you are using a tonal instrument utilizing the
3 C diatonic scale, then you will utilize only the trichord of the pitch you
4 D roll, you can play the pitch in any octave. And as previously stated,
5 E you may also play the flat and sharp of that pitch
6 F For Pentatonic instruments, roll a d10 and utilize a similar approach as
7 G stated above.
8 Reroll

5) Prepare to move into Process 2

To begin process 2, gather your dice if needed and move the chosen instruments into a
place where you can access them easily with as little movement as possible in addition to any
sound making devices that aid in bringing sound out of the instruments. Turn on the Radio you
have prepared. Adjust the volume so that it can be heard but not too much as to overpower your
instruments. Any sound from the radio is good. Once the Radio is on, begin using your method
of keeping time in whichever way it may be and begin playing Process 2
Optional 1) Feel free to really accentuate the sounds of your movement during process 1, maximize the
sound of your writing if you choose to write information down, shake multiple dice in a hand or cup if so
desired to make more sound during process 1
Optional 2) As you are organizing your instruments in step 5, feel free to make as much sound with them
as possible, slamming, dragging, or even throwing into place if so desired.
 Process 2
You as the performer must stay as silent as possible, do not wear shoes, do not speak, and
minimize the sounds you make as much as possible.
This will be less of a list of directions and more of a list of rules you must follow during
process 2
1) Work through the structure created during Process 1, You will use the sounds you have
practiced making on each instrument improvisationally. However, you may not make any
more sounds than what you can make, and you may not play an instrument longer than
the time rolled for that instrument. For tonal instruments you may only play the Trichord
rolled. Be creative and utilize as many different sounds as you can and are allowed!
2) Once you are done playing an instrument you must discard it in a manner that makes a
notable sound, this can be by destroying it, putting it noisily to the side, or some other
method.
3) Before moving onto a new instrument, you must change the channel the radio is
broadcasting, the sound from the radio can be any sound, however it must make enough
sound to be heard. The radio should play throughout the whole performance without stop.
4) Once you have completed performing all instruments, you must signal the end of the
piece by turning off the radio and standing silent. Do not move after this point until the
audience responds.

Optional 1) you may roll additional dice onto the floor during Process 2 This should happen a way that
doesn’t interfere with the flow of the piece. Roll the dice in a way that maximizes the sounds created.
Optional 2) at the end of the piece, instead of just turning the radio off you may choose to improvise with
the radio, changing the channel and volume. This may not happen for more than 30 seconds
Optional 3) When changing the radios channel and sound during instrument changes, you may use this as
an opportunity to briefly improvise with the volume of the radio, however it should not last more than 10
seconds and should be returned to level of volume that doesn’t overpower your instruments.