Mirror: For Viola Spolin (version 2)

By Olivia Block, 2014

For two percussionists
Duration: 8 minutes

Instrumentation:

A stopwatch is necessary. Additionally, it helps to have a conductor who can subtly cue
the halfway mark at four minutes.

The piece requires two of each of the following objects (below). The pairs of objects
should be as identical as possible.


Brick
Piece of paper (blank, at least 8.5 x 11 inches)
Small piece of sandpaper
Small (5x5 inches or so) cardboard box or aluminum container containing ! cup of large
dried beans
Bow
Tape recorder, containing one cassette tape, rewound to the beginning of side A*
Toy walkie talkie (one per player from a matching set)

Additionally, each player needs the following items to the side of the table

At least 1 small crotale.

Snare drum on a stand or on the floor in front of each player. **

*Cassette tapes should contain a field recording of a space with highly resonant
characteristics, like a large indoor hall, train station, or vast outdoor setting. Both tapes
should contain the exact same recording, beginning at the start of side A.

**I did not include sticks for the snare drum. The snare drum should be used as an
amplification device/filter for other textural sounds.

Set up:

Scenario 1:
Players face each other, standing, at a close, but comfortable distance. They should be
perpendicular to the audience, so that the audience is viewing both players from the side.
Players must be able to maintain eye contact at all times.
Player 1 will have the table of objects on one side and the drum beside the table. Player 2
will have the drum, table and objects set as if he or she were a reflection of player 1 in a
mirror. In other words, drums should face each other, tables should face each other, and
objects should be arranged on tables in a mirror- image relationship.
The stopwatch should be visible on a music stand near the players.
Scenario 2:

Players are seated on the floor facing each other, with objects laid out in front of, and
around themselves in an identical/mirror image-fashion.

Directions:

The piece is divided into halves. During the first half, player 1 leads with his or her
actions, and player 2 follows. During the second half, player 2 leads and player 1
follows.
It is critical to maintain eye contact during the entire piece.
Sound-producing gestures should be slow and measured movements, as if the players are
moving in slow motion.
This is a mirror exercise, so if player 1 is bowing something with the right hand, player 2
would be bowing with the left hand.

Start the stopwatch.

0-4 minutes:

Player 1 and 2 maintain eye contact. Player 2 follows/mirrors all of the gestures and
resulting sounds from player 1.

4-8 minutes

Switch roles, continuing the game with player 2 leading and player 1 following. Do not
break eye contact throughout.

The piece is over at eight minutes.