Transparency: Inflection Reflection is a solo cello piece that investigates novel harmonic possibilities for the cello through electronic collaboration. The design of the piece looks at the music in real time and then watches it generate into an altered version. Inflection is described as a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation with a change in pitch or loudness of the voice. While Reflection is defined as the production of an image or the action of bending or folding back. Thus, the music of this piece is a variation of short ideas that are then reproduced and return in a new composition as if observing through a mirror. Think of it as Alice in Wonderland traveling into an unknown fantasy, somewhat still familiar, except with music and technology. The aim is for the audience to perceive these modulated frequencies and harmonics as unique colors and textures, creating fresh acoustic experiences. While the piece is fully playable with the cello alone, its distinctive quality comes from the custom Max-MSP patch I created to assist the performance. The electronic component blends natural cello sounds with its electronic processing. The composition features 17 short cello excerpts, each lasting 3-7 seconds, processed live through Max. Within the patch, a preset combines with the Auzzie spectdelay and reverb, filtering and modulating the cello’s sounds to create echo-like effects with noticeable modulations.

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The cellist must use a microphone connected directly to the Max-MSP patch for real-time processing. Aside from using this setup, the performer may choose their own approach to performing the piece. The performer should treat each measure as an individual motif or lick. There should be pauses and time for resets between playing each idea. There is no set tempo, speed, or required sequence. The performer may choose the order, repeat measures as desired, and switch between one or several measures. Techniques and fingering may be used on different strings for transposition, but the piece must start and end with measure 0, labeled "Intro/Fine.