#70. 1 sonata

TITLE: 1 sonataedgerton_1sonata_mmt1_p00-title-page_small-border
CAT# (YEAR COMPOSED): 70 (2004)
INSTRUMENTATION: piano
PAGES: 51
DURATION (APPROX): 26’57
PUBLICATION: BABELSCORES®

PREMIERE PERFORMANCE: Performed by Moritz Ernst in the Experimental Theater at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur on January 4, 2014.
AWARD/RECOGNITION: Sélection’ in the 5th Dutilleux International Composition Compétition, 2003
SCORE:

RECORDINGS:

movement one (excerpt) – performed by Moritz Ernst in the Experimental Theater at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur on January 4, 2014.

movement two (excerpt) – performed by Moritz Ernst in the Experimental Theater at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur on January 4, 2014.

movement three (excerpt) – performed by Moritz Ernst in the Experimental Theater at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur on January 4, 2014.

NOTE:
Albert-László Barabási, from the introduction to his book titled Linked: the new science of
networks, “Just as diverse humans share skeletons that are almost indistinguishable, we have learned that these diverse maps follow a common blueprint. A string of recent breathtaking discoveries has forced us to acknowledge that amazingly simple and far-reaching natural laws govern the structure and evolution of all the complex networks that surround us.” (Barabási, 2003)

In part, this 1 sonata is influenced by a line of work known as “scale-free” networks. Briefly what this suggests is that networks are everywhere, from biological to eco-systems, even to the internet. These are not yet well understood, but research is beginning to provide answers. It seems that many networks are dominated by a relatively small number of important nodes/hubs that are connected to many other sites. While some hubs have only a few links, others have an enormous amount of links, and it is this sense in which they are “scale-free”. Further, no node is typical of the others.

This is dramatically different than the previous 40 years of research on complex networks, which were understood to be random, such that most nodes have approximately the same number of links. What recent research had found was that, instead of following a bell-shaped distribution (like the height of the majority of the world’s population), many networks feature a power law distribution (or finding the equivalent of lots of folks who are100 feet tall!).

These answers have significantly altered our understanding of complex networks. Unexplained by previous network theories, hubs offer convincing proof that various complex systems have strict architecture ruled by fundamental laws – these laws apply to real-world systems (cells, computers, languages and society) – but further, these organizing principles have significant implications for creation (developing better drugs, defending the internet, halting the spread of epidemics, or even composing music).

NOTE2: excerpts included (Jeffrey Burns) in the science program “It’s a Small World” (ABC Radio in Australia). Influenced by the new science of “scale-free” networks, this 1 sonata was featured in The Science Show on the program titled “The New Science of Networks”, that was broadcast on ABC radio (Australia) on Saturday 19 June 2004
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2004/1127796.htm

The New Science of Networks describes the organisation of complex systems in the man-made world and in nature. This knowledge allows us to predict how such networks grow, and how they are vulnerable. Typical examples of networks are The World Wide Web, electricity distribution systems, even terrorist organisations.

Guests
Steve Strogatz
Professor of Applied Mathematics Cornell University Author: ‘Synch:The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order’ Published by; Hyperion 2003
http://tam.cornell.edu/Strogatz.html

Jonathan Copeland
Professor of Biology Neuroethologist & firefly researcher Southern Georgia University Statesboro Georgia
http://alpha.marsci.uga.edu/coastalcouncil/Affiliates/copeland_jonathan.htm

Lynn Faust
Knoxville Tennessee
http://www.acfnewsource.org/science/firefly_find.html

Duncan Watts
Assoc Prof of Sociology Columbia University Author: ‘Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age’ Published by: WW Norton 2003
http://smallworld.columbia.edu/watts.html

George Csicsery
Documentary Film Maker ‘N is a Number’

Albert-László Barabási
Professor of Physics University of Notre Dame Author: ‘Linked – The New Science of Networks”
http://www.nd.edu/~alb/

Mike Edgerton – Composer

Laszlo Kiss