First Vision

First Vision is a sonic depiction of the theophany of Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805–1844).

Videos
Description
Listen
Listening Guide
Performances
Articles
Presentations
Reception
Credits and Special Thanks

Videos

Introductory video

April 5, 2017 performance overview

Description

First Vision consists of twenty-six sections that are divided into three movements. Each section (after the introduction) follows the content and chronological order of Joseph’s own account. The movements are divided as follows: Movement I has ten sections and ends with Joseph asking himself religious questions, Movement II also has ten sections and ends with the near destruction of Joseph, and Movement III has six sections and includes the actual theophany.

The music of the piece is listened to via speakers; specifically, 96 mini-loudspeakers spread out in a field. The speakers are laid out in a grid formation: 8 columns by 12 rows. The size of the area is about 70’ by 110’. The audience moves freely amongst the speakers during a performance of the work.

The sounds of the composition originate from several sources: a cello, multiple types of flutes, a human voice, synthesized noise, and several different percussion instruments. Sounds from all of these sources were recorded, and then processed and arranged in a variety of ways using a computer. A unique sound file for each speaker was created.

Every speaker is attached to a tablet and sits on a tray that rests on the ground. The tablets store the audio files that are specific to each speaker. All of the tablets are time-synchronized and commence playing at the same time.

During a performance of the work, audience members are given a listening guide that provides information about each section of the piece (i.e., instrumentation, accompanying text, compositional process, and spatial layout).

Listen

Live, binaural walk-about recording selections from concerts on July 4 and 9, 2016, 6:00–7:00 AM. Headphones are recommended.

A live, binaural recording of the complete premiere performance on July 4, 2016, 6:00–7:00 AM.* Headphones are recommended.

Listening Guide

Performances

July 4, 2016, 6:00–7:00 AM; East Lawn, Texas A&M University

July 9, 2016, 6:00–7:00 AM; East Lawn, Texas A&M University

April 5, 2017, 10:00–11:00 AM; East Lawn, Texas A&M University

Articles

Moeller, J. 2018. “Multichannel Works for Nonstationary Audiences.” Computer Music Journal 42(3):17-27. © 2018 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published by the MIT Press.

• Available online at https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/comj_a_00470
• Available as a PDF here

 
Moeller, J. 2017. “First Vision: Music for 96 Mini-Loudspeakers.”

• Available online at https://www.scribd.com/document/364540160/First-Vision

Presentations

Invited lecture about First Vision for Elise Morrison’s course “Intermedia Performance”
Texas A&M University, Department of Performance Studies
February 21, 2017, 1:25–2:00 PM

Invited presentation about First Vision for a five-stake youth conference
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
400 W. Apache St., Farmington, NM 87401
July 14, 2017, 7:00–7:45 PM

Invited lecture about First Vision for Leonardo Cardoso’s course “Music and Technology”
Texas A&M University, Department of Performance Studies
February 8, 2018, 10:00–10:50 AM

Reception

Credits and Special Thanks

Credits

Mateo Lopez: Percussion
Mariana Gariazzo: Flutes
Sydney Whipple: Cello
John Moeller: Voice

Special Thanks

 
Funded by an Arts Research Enhancement Grant from the Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts at Texas A&M University.

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*The first 0:01:23 comes from a performance on July 9, 2016.