Choose Five

Choose Five gives agency to its performers by inviting them to choose five musical paths from a set of ten possible graphically depicted options.

The “leader” (usually the conductor, or an advanced soloist) performs a series of five distinct rhythmic patterns taken from traditional Arab music, each looped for about a minute. Based solely on what they hear, each member of the ensemble chooses a graphic representation in their part and interprets it by creating any non-traditional sets of sounds they wish on their instrument. Neither the ensemble nor the leader knows which graphic matches which rhythm.

The rhythms are realized with “dumms” (low, pitchless percussive sounds) and “takks” (high, pitchless percussive sounds). There is no need to use Arab instruments like the riqq or darbukah, though they are welcome; a music stand, a table, claps or vocal sounds all work, which makes the piece open to students and ensembles of any makeup.