Also known as Piece for Amplified Snare Drum, Williams Tells of Rights (WTR) is a sound song for speech activated snare drum which I composed in 1994 at the request of my dear friend, percussionist Jan Williams. The piece continues to evolve to this day through multiple versions of the written text. WTR was first performed by Jan in September, 1994, as part of a double-city mini tour at the Music Gallery in Toronto and at Hallwalls in Buffalo, New York.
It is sound poem that contains a collection of found and composed phrases featuring homophones of the word “right” that when heard together illustrate the English word-sound’s inherent semantic diversity. To perform it, the percussionist recites each phrase in a natural tone of voice. But when the highlighted word-sound appears on the page, the performer turns to face the drum head and shots “rrrrr-ight!” into the drum with an exaggerated roll of the tongue ( as in Spanish ) causing it to snare sharply.
( this space is left blank for those who might be inclined to speculate about the social commentary ramifications of this piece while i take a break and poor myself a nice cold gin and tonic )
Williams Tells of Rights (1994, 1997, 2018v)
2018 documentary recording of a recent performance by Jan Williams as part of New Music On The Point (VT), the piece has grown and transformed organically over the years in collaboration with Jan who performs it often. © Gustavo Matamoros. Subtropics Editions. All rights reserved.
Introduction to a performance, Gustavo Matamoros, Williams Tells of Rights
this is a 5 minute introduction of the piece before a performance of it at the North Miami Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) October 20, 2019
Various performance versions of this score are available from Subtropics Editions: info (@) subtropics (.) org
Performance History
2019-03-13
//BuffFluxus Spring Tour 2019//
featuring Jan Williams and Michael Basinski
Program:
Det’s Me – Don Metz | Ribble Bobble Pimlico – Kurt Schwitters/arr. John Smigielski | Sa Tu Lu Be Cha – Don Metz | Williams Tells of Rights – Gustavo Matamoros | Fungini – Michael Basinski and Don Metz.
The Players: Don Metz, Michael Basinski, Jan Williams, John Smigielski, Kristen Smigielski, David Adamczyk, Sonny Baker, Kevin Thurston.
Buffalo University Anderson Gallery, Buffalo, New York
2019-01-20
Art Space as Art Form
A conversation with the former director of the Center of Contemporary Art (now MoCA NoMi) Lou Anne Colodny, former Dade-County Art Librarian Barabara Young, and Miami-based sound artist Gustavo Matamoros.
Immediately following the discussion, in a similar artist-led spirit to the work produce at CoCA, Matamoros will perform his original work “Williams Tells of Rights” (1994)
Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, Florida
2018-09-09
Pittsburg Festival of New Music
2:30pm Program
Six Harps Around The Audience
plus Festival composer Marilyn Shrude and
percussion legend Jan Williams
Surround by Federico Garcia-De Castro | Drifting over a Red Place by Marilyn Shrude | Shadows & Dawning by Marilyn Shrude | Jan Williams: Williams Tells of Rights by Gustavo Matamoros
Pittsburg Opera, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
___
3:30pm Program
Six Harps Around The Audience
plus Festival composer Marilyn Shrude and
percussion legend Jan Williams
Shadows & Dawning by Marilyn Shrude | Jan Williams: Williams Tells of Rights by Gustavo Matamoros | Drifting over a Red Place by Marilyn Shrude | Surround by Federico Garcia-De Castro
Pittsburg Opera, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
2018-06-05
New Music On the Point: Opening Concert
Program:
cComposed Improvisation for Steinberger bass guitar (1987/90) by John Cage—written for Robert Black; Robert Black, Steinberger bass guitar plus cComposed Improvisation for snare drum alone (1987/90) by John Cage—written for Jan Williams; Jan Williams, snare drum; both performed simultaneously | Fireside (Homage to Ruth Crawford Seeger) (2001) Eve Beglarian | Farther from the Heart (2016) Eve Beglarian, voice; Amy Williams, piano | Cineshape 4 (2015) by Amy Williams; Amy Williams, piano; video by Aaron Henderson | Williams Tells of Rights (1994-) Gustavo Matamoros—written for Jan Williams; Jan Williams, amplified snare drum | Minuets (2014) Brad Balliett; Brad Balliett, bassoon | The Hermit Thrush and the Astronaut (2012) by Kate Moore—written for Robert Black; Robert Black, contrabass
New Music On the Point Festival, Brandon, Vermont
2009-03-07
Subtropics 20: Marathon
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Miami Beach High School Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
2007-03-01
Subtropics 19: Jan Williams
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Jan Williams
Adrianne Arsht Performing Arts Center, Miami, Florida
2006
Poetry Night
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Luna Star Cafe, North Miami, Florida
2005-11-02
Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)
Music for a Crowded Planet: Percussion Pieces for a Single Instrument, With or Without Voice
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Jan Williams
Convention Center, Lawton, Oklahoma
2005-10-20
Hörkunstfestival
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Sam Ashley
Media Art Zentrum, Erlangen, Germany
2005-10-02
Gustavo Matamoros: Music on a Budget
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
CubaCultur, Münster, Germany
2005-10-01
Mex Series Intermediale und Experimentelle Musik Projekt
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Kuenstlerhaus, Dortmund, Germany
2004-02-25
Experimental Music Series
Curated by Barbara Young
Williams Tells of Rights sound installation version
Mail Library, Miami, Florida
2001-11-15
Outer Ear Festival of Sound
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, Illinois
1997-09-15
Visiting Artist: Gustavo Matamoros
Curated by Lou Mallozzi
Williams Tells of Rights sound installation version
Gallery 400
School of Arts and Design, University of Illinois, Chicago
1997-09-01
Ambrosino Gallery: New Space Opening Event
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Ambrosino Gallery, Miami, Florida
1996-12-04
Interpretations Series
Gustavo Matamoros: In a Fishtank
Williams Tells of Rights, performed by Jan Williams
Merkin Hall, New York City
1995-11-07
The Black Box Project
PUNTO – RE: Disobedience — Songs of Order and Disorder
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Jan Williams
Ground Level, Miami Beach, Florida
1995-03-02
Emit Series
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
1995-02-03
Tallahassee New Music Festival
Williams Tells of Rights performed by Gustavo Matamoros
Nautilus Foundation, Lloyd, Florida
1994-09-09 | US premiere
Sound Portraits and Other Syntax Violations
Piece for Amplified Snare Drum ( a.k.a. Williams Tells of Rights )
composed for and performed by Jan Williams
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo, New York
1994-09-02 | world premiere
Sound Portraits and Other Syntax Violations
Piece for Amplified Snare Drum ( a.k.a. Williams Tells of Rights )
composed for and performed by Jan Williams, snare drum and spoken text
The Music Gallery, Toronto, Canada