This composition was composed and performed by William Scott Lineberry and Bryan Dougherty Lineberry. Its writing was finished in its completion on 01-22-2023, and performed live at Synchronicity Arts' Sanctuary Series on 01-20-2024.

The composition is a structured improvisation, formed as a map in a grid.
The premise of the composition was to have each composer code personal memories of each other into melodic note sequences. The memories themselves would be hidden from each other, yet the representation of them would remain as melodies written into the grid itself. The overlay of memories, woven into each other, become the platform for which the performers would then play through as a duet with each other.

Both composers wrote 2x sets of 9x memories each. 1x set contained 9x difficult memories of the other, and the other set contained 9x easy memories of the other. A total of 4x sets of 9x memories: 36x memories total:

9x Father’s Easy Memories of the Son
9x Father’s Difficult Memories of the Son
9x Son’s Easy Memories of the Father
9x Son’s Difficult Memories of the Father

Each of these memories was coded in 9-note melodic sequences. A total of 36x 9-note melodic sequences were coded and formed as representations of these memories. Each of these 4x sets of 9x melodic sequences were then transcribed and woven together into a 9x9 grid in the following orientations and directional order:

The 9x Father’s Easy Memories/Melodic Sequences of the Son were inputted “Top-to-Bottom”
The 9x Father’s Difficult Memories/Melodic Sequences of the Son were inputted “Right-to-Left”
The 9x Son’s Easy Memories/Melodic Sequences of the Father were inputted “Left-to-Right”
The 9x Son’s Difficult Memories/Melodic Sequences of the Father were inputted “Bottom-to-Top”

These overlaid into each block in a way that created their own unique 4-note chords - which can be viewed as sharing 1 notated representation of each of the 4 sets of memories, due to each set's intersection with each other at every block.

With the grid containing intersections of memories from both Father and Son, it is the responsibility of the Father (William Scott Lineberry) and Son (Bryan Dougherty Lineberry) to navigate the junctioned mapping of those foundational memories together in musical conversation, as an improvised duet.

Each performer begins at one entry point block along the borders of the grid, and then proceeds to navigate within the piece itself by freely moving from one block to another adjacent block (by moving up, down, left, or right) whenever they feel compelled to move. Meaning they can spend as little time as one quick note, or elongate a full and complete musical idea within the block, before moving on. In this way the performers are always participating in the stream of memories they share with each other.

Both improvisers build their conversation off a foundation of memories that, when combined together, creates an entirely new set of language to communicate with; reflecting the way the relationships we build are equally informed by the foundational memories that we share with each other, yet are built and continued anew with each new interaction. This grid allows the performers to honor and respect the honesty and reality of those memories that are shared, but also empowers them to create new beauty and understanding from their mutually-engaged amalgamation.

The navigation of the grid intentionally elevates a refocus on several Christian themes as well, such as exploring the Father/Son relationship, acts of reconciliation, renewal of the heart and mind, renewal of all things, reflections on eternity and timelessness, breaking and the reinterpretation of inherited communication structures and forms to find a more fundamental truth, and invitations of the Holy Spirit to guide. It is only by God's grace and love, and the inspiration of God, that this piece was created and shared.

The piece is complete when both improvisers decide the piece is complete in conversation.

credits

released April 1, 2024

Written and Composed by William Scott Lineberry and Bryan Dougherty Lineberry. It was performed through the hospitality of Synchronicity Art’s Sanctuary Series on 01-20-2024