Micromotives
Designed specifically for large groups of improvisers, Micromotives is a compositional system and set of pieces that is as flexible as the players, retaining levels of freedom akin to those found in small group free improvisation. There is no single leader - creative powers are able to move freely around the group - and players can be as directorial, passive, aggressive, or tactical as they like. They can instigate synchronised events; opt out and join in; subvert one another’s ideas; play or be silent; use predetermined materials or improvise freely as they individually desire.
City Summer Sounds Concert - a selection of pieces from Micromotives performed by Union Division in May 2021
Union Division
When it came to developing and performing Micromotives, it quickly became clear that a bespoke ensemble was needed. Union Division was born, mixing players with different musical backgrounds, aesthetics and personalities. Over six months of rehearsals and conversations with the ensemble, the mechanisms and materials of Micromotives were refined and developed until the group and the composition were fully symbiotic. The group debuted at The SPARC Festival at City, University of London in 2018 and soon established a thriving residency at the Vortex. The ensemble performs with 10-16 players from a pool of some of the UK’s top improvisers including Steve Beresford, Laura Jurd, Rachel Musson, Charlotte Keeffe, Hannah Marshall, Otto Willberg, Elliot Galvin, Liam Noble, John Edwards, Sam Eastmond, Tullis Rennie, Rosanna Ter-Berg, George Crowley, Tom Challenger, Josephine Davies, Will Glaser, James Maddren, Dave Smith, Alex Bonney, Chris WIlliams, Benedict Taylor, Brice Catherin and PA Tremblay.
How does it work?
The base modus operandi is the improvised situation. Players can always choose when and what to play, and when to be silent. Mechanisms and materials are not to be seen as hurdles but rather as ways that individual players can try to instigate something beyond the usual scope of large group improvisation. They are not impositions, but enablers, allowing detailed information to be silently communicated in real-time via a set of hand signals. Crucially, there is no obligation for players to use any of the given mechanisms or materials.
Kilter (for John Zorn) from Micromotives, performed by Union Division as part of the SPARC Festival, 2018