Gamma Chamber from Nation Building by Popebama

Gamma Chamber (2017) by Dennis Sullivan

Gamma Chamber is scored for soprano/tenor saxophones, percussion, feedback looped transducers, guitar pedals and fixed media. The tenor saxophone is amplified with a microphone placed in the bell and as well has two contact microphones on the body of the instrument to amplify small mechanical actions. Each is equipped with a volume pedal. The saxophone also has a half balloon stretched over the bell to act as a resonating membrane. A transducer is affixed to the balloon which produces feed back with the bell microphone as well as a microphone outside of the horn. This signal processing can be manipulated via proximity of the transducer to the outside microphone, or playing the horn either through the outside microphone, inside microphone or various combinations of both. The percussionist plays a series of drums, electronic drums, sampler (malletKat) strobe lights and guitar pedals. Samples are captured live via two boss DD6 pedals and pre recorded samples are triggered via the malletKat and manipulated live. Acoustic sounds drift in and out of their electronic counterparts as live and prerecorded samples combine to form new sonic events that are unique to each performance of the piece. Gamma Chamber sits somewhere between avant classical chamber music and underground noise metal/blackened grind core.

Premiered by Popebama on December 10, 2017 at Bodies as Technology; Center for Performance Research; Brooklyn, NY. Revised version premiered March 15, 2019 at the 49th Annual Ball State Festival of New Music; Muncie, IN. Recorded by Popebama January 17, 2020 at Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Garden City, NY.

New York-based experimental duo that focuses on exciting performances of unconventional works. The “slippery duo” (—New Yorker), of Erin Rogers (saxophone) and Dennis Sullivan (percussion), apply text, electronics, and high-energy instrumental writing to newly discovered sounds.