a thousand-year-long polymetric drum pattern

thousand.alda

# 12tone: "I Wrote a Thousand-Year-Long Song By Accident"
# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7RCRLHcOlE
#
# Transcribed by Dave Yarwood 2019-06-28
#
# In this piece, each percussion instrument is played at a regular interval
# based on a prime number: the hi-hat is played every 2 16th notes, the kick
# every 3 16th notes, the snare every 5 16th notes, and so on. Because we're
# dealing with prime numbers, it takes an exceptionally long time for all of the
# instruments to eventually line up: over 1000 years, apparently!
#
# I find this really interesting to listen to. In the video, it's described as
# being like watching a fire: chaotic, yet regular, with patterns that emerge
# every so often and catch you by surprise. Check it out!

(tempo! 100)

midi-percussion:
  # 2/16: hat
  V1: r16 *2
  o2 [g+16 r16*1]*999

  # 3/16: kick
  V2: r16 *3
  o2 [c16 r16*2]*999

  # 5/16: snare
  V3: r16 *5
  o2 [d16 r16*4]*999

  # 7/16: high tom
  V4: r16 *7
  o3 [d16 r16*6]*999

  # 11/16: mid tom
  V5: r16 *11
  o2 [b16 r16*10]*999

  # 13/16: low tom
  V6: r16 *13
  o2 [a16 r16*12]*999

  # 17/16: rimshot
  V7: r16 *17
  o2 [c+16 r16*16]*999

  # 19/16: cowbell
  V8: r16 *19
  o3 [g+16 r16*18]*999

  # 23/16: tambourine
  V9: r16 *23
  o3 [f+16 r16*22]*999

  # 29/16: ride
  V10: r16 *29
  o3 [b16 r16*28]*999

  # 31/16: crash
  V11: r16 *31
  o3 [a16 r16*30]*999