Shifts - A composition by Godfried-Willem Raes 1987/88

The <GMT> version of this composition allows pure electronic or electromechanic realisations as well as performances whereby one or up to four instruments can play together with the computer/synthesizer .

The gmt.exe file has to be a specific build for shifts. The required files can be obtained via request by e-mail to the Logos Foundation.

run gmt.exe, either by clicking the name of the file in windows explorer, or - if you made a shortcut- by clicking the <GMT> icon.

The main setup menu should mention that the program's build contains the code for <Shifts> by Godfried-Willem Raes. If Shifts appears as a choice under the menus, it's o.k.

3. If you have more than a single midi output device, a submenu will be displayed listing all possible midi output devices found on your hardware. Choose a midi device using an external port (such as SB16MIDI Out [330], or Roland MPU401...). If you have no midi-out devices, you cannot run <Shifts>,

4. Click on the pop-up menu label 'External Equiment'. A first pop-up appears, displaying brand names or descriptions of sound generating devices. To perform shifts you can only select:

Of course you should only select items you own and have effectively connected to the midi out port of your computer.

If you selected EMU, another pop-up will be displayed, presenting you a choice of synthesizer modules that can be used. For Shifts you should limit your choices to the following list:

If you selected Robot Automats, you can only choose the player piano. This choice only works well with a Trimpin, Raes/Trimpin, Yamaha Disklavier player piano connected. The Playola Vorsetzer cannot be used because of latency problems making the device less suitable for real time performances in combination with instruments.

5. Using the left most pop-up menu, labeled GMT-Compositions, select the author, Godfried-Willem Raes, then in the pop-up follow the choice Algortihmic compositions, further follow SHIFTS at which point you are presented a choice between:

If you selected the player piano as an output device, the choice will be obvious here. The choices here differ in the note-mapping and pitch organisation used for the calculation of the composition.

Usually, performers will have to select 'Shifts for Instruments', the Just version requiring special instruments tuned in just intonation, the Dim version being plain boring if used for performances...

If a message box shows up, it displays the pitch sets used for composing the piece. Just click o.k. There is no error if you do not get this message box.

7. The last step in this window, requires you to select the Start GMT tab and click GMT Main.

The main opening window vanishes and the GMT-engine cockpit window is displayed in the upper right corner of your screen.

1. Click the button labeled Score ON. A blank window should appear in the lower left corner of your screen.

2. Now you should select the musical parts you want to use as source for the notes the performer is presented to play. These parts are selected by clicking the tasks labeled:

3. Now click the SCORE task, rerouting the output of the voices to the score display window.

4, If you want real time controll over midi volumes for all channels you use, click the Levels07 for the midi channels 0 to 7, and Levels8F for the channels 8 to 15. The choices display windows with horizontal sliders, the function of which will be pretty evident... Before starting the program, please first drag the windows to a convenient place on your screen. Dragging windows during program runtime, may endanger real time performance of the program.

5. Now you can start the composition by clicking the button labeled START ON . Do not click <Shifts>. This task will we started and selected automatically by using the START ON button.

Whilst the program is running and Shifts is playing, you can controll the dynamic range of the voices by using the sliders in the cockpit. The upper slider controls the dynamic range for the voices 0 to 7. The lower one, idem for the voices 8 to 15. If you opened the level controllers, of course you can adjust individual instruments volumes using the sliders.

Playing tempo can be modified using the up-down buttons on the extreme right of the cockpit window. The upper U/D controll increments/decrements playing tempo with slight intervals (ca. 1%). The middle U/D controll augments/decreases tempo by 50%. The lower U/D controll doubles/halves the playing tempo.

The Sost ON button, suppresses note-off commands and should only be used when FB01 synths are selected.

The number of notes shown in the score window corresponds to the number of part-display task you have activated. The maximum being equal to eight. The notes playing / to be played for each part are displayed on their own fixed horizontal position on the staff. Performers should keep their eye on a selected position in the staff and attempt to immediately play the note displayed. They can add ornamentation by borrowing notes from other activated parts, at their own discretion.

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