These are pieces for people without traditional instruments. Some are game- or play-like. Most involve action or movement made for particular places. Videos and some scores are linked below.
Introducing (object) (2019) for object, open duration
Good Work (2019) for 2 people
Good Work (2018) for 4+ people
Declaration (2017) for untrained chorus, 5’+
This is a scream (2017) for speaker and tape, 20’+
In 1839 it was considered elegant to take a tortoise out walking (2017) for people with marbles, open
The 24: Practicing Slow (2008-16) for sonified tai chi practitioners, 10′
How to assemble (2012/15) for 6-7 voices, 8′ – score
The movement of glass through a house (2013) installation and performance in Zhuantang Demolition District, Hangzhou, China, 2013.
Aquarium: an out-of-water ballet (2011) with projection by Joe Mariglio. Mannequin leg opera featuring animated undersea umbrella, projection of synchronized swimmers and Liberace illuminated in flocking dots, movement to pavanes by Ravel and Faure. Archive Fever, University Art Gallery, San Diego, 2011. The Best 15 Minutes of Your Life, Springfest, San Diego, 2011. (excerpt)
Superstars Are What We Are (2011) for 5 rock-paper-scissors-players, narrator, and video projection. Premiered by thingNY, New York, 2011. Unusual Encounters, San Diego, 2011.
Blindfolded tour; Transcription of Event for Midday in the Sunlight for midnight in unsafe space; Small pieces for a room with a view (2011) Unsafe Space, La Jolla, 2011.
Moisturization (2010) for sewer and scented moisturizer, Unsafe Space, La Jolla, 2010.
Clothing (2010) for 2 people, clothing crossfade. Clint McCallum and Carolyn Chen, La Jolla, 2009. score
Human windchimes (2009) sound-theater for instrument-clothing of recycled materials, sound illuminating movement. Brian Archinal, David Medine, Ian Power, 12’, Bodies II: The Wulf, Los Angeles, 2009. Brian Griffeath-Loeb, Paul Feyertag, Clint McCallum, Bob Pierzak, 90’, A Day in LA: Washington Boulevard Art Concert, Pico Rivera and Culver City, Los Angeles, CA, 2009. Brian Griffeath-Loeb, Paul Feyertag, Bob Pierzak,Grace Leslie, 20′, City of Encinitas Environmental Art Exhibit, Encinitas Library Earth Day, Encinitas, CA, 2010.
Tragedy: Love Duet for Clint and Ian (2009) corpse-position-permutation play 2 bodies and light operator, 12’, premiered by Clint McCallum and Ian Power at Bodies II, Los Angeles, 2009. Ensemble Pamplemousse, New York, 2014. score
Tragedy (2009) tableau vivant (corpse-position-permutation) in light-dark rhythm play for 10 people, 22’. Soundisfaction, San Diego, 2009.
Adagio (2009) slow-motion face choreography to headphone listening of Bruckner’s Symphony No.7 for 3-4 people, 8’, Soundisfaction, San Diego, 2009. Bodies II, Los Angeles, 2009. The Institute for Intermediate Studies, Berlin and Boston, 2009. Die Ordnung der Dinge, Berlin, Esslingen, 2014. Score: adagio
The 24 (2008) Yang style taichi sequence with sonorous arctic apparel, The Loft, La Jolla, 2009.
The confusion of stars (2008) model universe of people circling one another with small lights blinking at individual rates, premiered by bodies, Soundisfaction, 2009. Poto Festival, 2009. Score: The confusion of stars
Pears (2007) for two people. Requested and premiered by Reiko Manabe and Yumi Hara-Cawkwell, San Diego, 2007. Kerstin Fuchs and Jesse Marino, Berlin 2008; Adrian Coburn and Naomi Podber, New York, 2008; Matt Hough and Ian Antonio, New York, 2009. Score: Pears
Transcription of guqin tuning for people in a supermarket, Monochromes, Aisle Music, Traveling freezer music, Sort by sound (2004-10) for people in a supermarket. Sitters in cart intone the names of products passed, conducting cart-pusher through changes in speed and volume, and other pieces. Supermarket Music, La Jolla Ralphs, 2010.
The character for ant contains the character for justice (2006), for people, containers, and things that can be contained. Adrian Coburn and Eyal Maoz, New York, 2007. Breathing Music for the Dark, San Diego, 2009, with Anna Thorvaldsdottir. score
Carolyn Chen 