ezra buchla just turned me onto this gestural performance piece called SPACECRAFT, written by frederic rzewsksi, and performed above by musica electtronica viva (mev) in 1967. the performance is hard to record (and hard to listen to) because the improvisation is about a potential communal energy that can be found in the space, the room, the location, in whatever environment it is performed. in exploring that energy there is a possible harmony, but also a possible disharmony. this is the tension that is inherent in the performance. rzewski's text is an essential part of understanding the piece as it operates as a guide, a blueprint, a plan that illustrates a theater of the mind as a labrynth projected into physical space, which can then be traveled by others through sound, energy and gesture.
the pdf can be found here: plan for SPACECRAFT (1967) pdf
and a weblink here: plan for SPACECRAFT
