Link to Score and Performance Audio Files

Hardware & Software Needed

• A robot vacuum with remote control: the composer used Eufy Robovac 11S
• Bluetooth speaker: a light but loud model that can go on top of the robot vacuum
• Audio player app on a phone or a computer: must have shuffle and Bluetooth function
• A stage with minimum obstacles for the robot vacuum

Performers needed

• Violinist: on stage along with the robot vacuum
• Tech operator: controls the robot vacuum and audio player off stage

Hardware Preparation

1. Pair the Bluetooth speaker and the audio player
2. Attach the Bluetooth speaker on top of the robot vacuum. Secure it with tape
3. Download all audio files (mp3) from https://joowonpark.net/distantyetaudible 
4. Put the audio files into a playlist in the music player app
5. Turn on the Shuffle mode to randomize the playback order of the files
6. Place the robot vacuum and its charger on the stage

Score example and explanation 

Cue #

Low Energy / Slow / Quiet		High Energy / Fast / Loud

• In each cue, the violinist chooses a phrase from 4-6 options. If the sound emitted from the robot vacuum seems to be in the low energy/slow/quiet category, choose a phrase from the left column. Choose a phrase from the right column if the vacuum sound fits the high energy/fast/loud category.

• The following determines the cue duration.
  • Duration of the audio file. Go to the next cue if a new audio file plays. 
  • Time for the vacuum to take a turn. If the vacuum changes its direction, go to the next cue.
  • Violinist can signal the tech operator to go to the next cue
• The regular bar line in the notation indicates the duration of the cue. If a cue lasts 30 seconds, play the phrase between the regular bar line for approximately 30 seconds
• The repeat bar line in the notation indicates that the phrase should be repeated until the next cue.
• Improvise the pitch and rhythm according to the note shapes and positions
  • Notes within the bar line: play mid-range notes
  • Notes above the bar line: play high-range notes
  • Notes below the bar line: play low-range notes
  • Note durations: interpret according to the current cue
    • Whole notes and half notes: very slow and slow 
    • Quarter notes: not fast nor slow 
    • Eighth notes: fast 
  • Glissando: notated as a  line connecting two notes
  • Rectangular note heads: play airy, noise-like yet-pitched tone
  • X note heads: mute strings

Performance Instruction for the Tech Operator

• The Tech operator’s main job is to cue the robot vacuum and the audio player.
• If the audio player plays the next track, go to the next cue by changing the vacuum’s direction 
• If the vacuum turns to a different direction before the end of the audio file, go to the next cue by skipping to the next audio file on the audio player.
• At the performer’s signal to go to the next cue, change the direction of the vacuum and skip to the next audio file.
• Note that the beginning of the piece (cue #0) is a vacuum solo. The audio file starts to play at cue #1
• Note the specific sequence of turning off the vacuum and the audio player at cues #28-30 

Contact Joo Won Park for questions or inquiries (https://www.facebook.com/joowonmusic/ or https://joowonpark.net/)