Temper (Length Wave)

(2024)

Live version performed as part of Water (Deshkan Ziibi) by Masha Kouznetsova and Ellen Moffat on December 12, 2024.

Piece featuring twelve vintage electronic metronomes.

They are all set to the slowest speed, and are arranged in a wavy line.

They will be manipulated and mixed so that they no longer demarcate time but scramble it, stir it, muddle it.

Each metronome sounds a bit differently, due to wear and tear, plus the fact that there are various models and brands.

Some don’t keep time steadily, others emit a noticeably loud electrical hum. None of them can be depended on for accuracy, in fact they each exude an idiosyncratic character.

It’s clear that each one much prefers to be on its own wavelength.