Melencolia I is a semi-indeterminate score where the performers prepare a “version” based on a set of rules stemming from the navigable routes of an 8x8 grid of musical fragments.

A prepared version of the work constitutes a collaborative interaction between the performers preparing a version and the composer.

Many features of the work are determined during the performers preparation of a version such as the duration of the piece, structurally significant confluence points, juxtaposition or uniting of material types. Other features are built in to the score ensuring certain temporal and pitch structures are preserved regardless of routes chosen in each unique “version” . 

This is a result of a superimposition of three layers of pre-compositional structures – these are an 8x8 pan magic square, controlling temporal organization, four 4x4 magic squares controlling the pitch/interval structure and a graeco-latin square, controlling 8 distinct types of material and (such as indeterminate noise, scalic material, multi-interval sequences) and 8 different modes of playing that material (pizz., arco, arco harm. etc.)

The ensemble is fed through four digital delay systems of 2'50” each and then projected through a quadraphonic or octaphonic sound system. The timing of these delay creates an octet between the live quartet and delayed quartet with strictly organized confluence points between the two.