Prompted improvisation

This idea came to me in bed in the middle of the night, at least half asleep.

One composer writes a very short piece for a small ensemble. Several other composers write short works (for any or all of the same ensemble) in response. None of the composers are named until the final performance.

In my initial thought, the first piece is played just before intermission and the others respond during intermission, and their responses constitute the second half of the concert. (This is why I named it all "prompted improvisation".)

Upon later reflection, that seems impossible, so I revised it to "prompted composition" with the second set of composers given more time (24 hours? one week?) to respond. And I thought it could be named "Question and Responses".

Maybe I'll suggest this to the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Green Umbrella series.

P.S. (July 2025) In The New Yorker this month, I read about 24 Hour Musicals and 24 Hour Plays, where "creative communities produce plays and musicals written, rehearsed, and performed in twenty-four hours." My "prompted improvisation" idea is neither completely new nor completely impossible!

Fighting vandalism in the near future

When we have the "internet of things" and ubiquitous sensors, here's one small use that would warm my heart: anti-vandalism.

Consider graffiti:

First of all, spray paint cans won't operate on any surface if you don't have the owner's permission.

If some young punk somehow manages to start to tag some graffiti, his identity is captured, and he hears, by name, that he is being fined.

On second offense, not only is the fine multiplied, but a swarm of paint drones tag swatches of his hair, his body, his clothes, his bag, and his ride.

Etc.