Continuo

for accordion and motion tracking

Alyssa Aska

2014
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This work is designed for performance with a motion-tracking device. The movements the
accordionist makes during performance will affect the electronics, with special emphasis on the
speed and opening and closing of the bellows. Some elements of the score may not be audible but
will result in an electronic sound. The electronics function as somewhat of a basso continuo or
#X ww EE 44 # ww ww
D 44 D
34
D 24 D 44 24
figured bass in that they provide a harmonic accompaniment to the sounded notes. Fast or abrupt

bellows motion will cause the accompaniment chords to expand; slow bellows motion will collapse
the chords.
F p fp
p# E . fp
a # Xj X Legend
ww 34 EE 44 # #ww ww 24

U
44 O O
Diamond noteheads: produce breath sound on the accordion
24 OJ a U 44
Gradually move between natural bellows and bellows shake (or
N.B. B.S. vice versa when indicated).
a 4 # ww ww ww ww
4
fp
Microtonal registral shift Gradually move from one register to another
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producing microtonal effect.

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44
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p
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X XXX X X X X

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 1

Continuo for accordion and motion tracking

q = 60-70 Alyssa Aska

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Delicately B.S.
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p F p fp
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Breath sound
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B.S. N.B.
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fp P
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B.S. N.B.
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E.
B.S.
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N.B.
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2 Microtonal registral shift

w E X w E
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27

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p F p
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B.S.
4
Lush
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32

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p F p fp
a j
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N.B. B.S. N.B.

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2 J a
37

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fp P
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EE ..
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p P
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Microtonal registral shift

24 XX
B.S. N.B.
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B.S N.B.
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bw w
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Left hand registers are written as a triangle or a rectangle with two horizontal

.
lines, and they must be written below the staff.

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These are the possible combinations in most common instruments.

? bw w 8 feet register. This actually sounds as the 16 feet register in the right
hand. They call it 8 because it is the main register for L.H. with real
pitch sounds.

8-8 feet. In the lowest octave this register sounds actually as a 8-4
(equivalent 16-8 of the R.H) because it is technically impossible to fit
into the left box two 8 feet rows of reeds.

2 feet (sounds as the 4 feet R.H. register.) piccolo

34 U 44

62

& EE ..
8-2 feet

# # XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX # # XX XX EE
8-8-2 feet tutti EE # # EE ..
p p
As said some accordions have different combinations on the left hand:

34 E U 44 E . O
. w X X X E
? EE .
Left hand registers are written as a triangle or a rectangle with two horizontal
This is a common combination.
lines, and they must be written below the staff.
These are the possible combinations in most common instruments.

8 feet register. This actually sounds as the 16 feet register in the right
hand. They call it 8 because it is the main register for L.H. with real
pitch sounds. And this another common combination, particularly for Russian-built
instrument. However there is no piccolo register, so the high register
is limited.
8-8 feet. In the lowest octave this register sounds actually as a 8-4

q = 80-90
(equivalent 16-8 of the R.H) because it is technically impossible to fit
into the left box two 8 feet rows of reeds.

a. a.
Abrupt; jarring
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67

D D
2 feet (sounds as the 4 feet R.H. register.) piccolo

& 8-2 feet

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P
37

O.
8-8-2 feet tutti

O O O
D @X a D D a J
As said some accordions have different combinations on the left hand:

? This is a common combination.

And this another common combination, particularly for Russian-built

instrument. However there is no piccolo register, so the high register

XX
is limited.

X
a. a. a. a #X a . D a @ a.
& X D X
72

D
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37

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X X X # X nX # X X X X
X XX X #X
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77

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F f

a a a @ a. a a D a D
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bX XX X XX X

XJ X # X X # #XXJ # #XX XXJ #X

XX a # XJ X
a a J a a D a @X b XX
82

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f P f P F
P [
D a D a a a D D
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X XX # X #X X # X XX #X X X # X X XX

#XX #XXJ XX # #EE # #XXJ XX # #XX

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b XJ X a @ bXX .. XX bEE XXJ a a
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f P fp f fp f p f P f F
a a a a a
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j j j j
# >XX XX XX # XX XX # XX XX # XX EE # EE XX

bXX XX b bXX EE.. b XX j

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EE J a a J bXX XXJ a a
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fp f fp F
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As inaudible as possible
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