Introduction
Introduction
- The Blank Canvas Octet is a telematic/online project that meets via Zoom rather than in a room.
- The ensemble uses System 50;50 in Sound for improvisers.
- The schedule is weekly, every Wednesday.
- One simple rule is at the heart of this music's success: Play and Not Play. The rules are applied within an egalitarian framework. This simple binary design supports diversity in each piece and within the set list created for each session.
- This project is rewarding. well attended and a success.
- It allows improvisers from multiple locations and countries to meet. play together every week.
What is `System 50;50 In Sound for improvisers
- Please refer to the `TAB` about System 50:50
Who are the players, can I join?, can I watch it online
- Please refer to the TAB `The octet, who are the players?`
- If you are interested in joining, first be aware that the ensemble is not suitable for musicians new to the genre, please refer to the TAB `sign up`
- At the moment (July 2026) there are no plans for a live feed / strea, to YouTube
Schedule 2026
1. Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 (1/7/26)
2. Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 (1/14/26)
3. Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 (1/21/26)
4. Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 (1/28/26)
5. Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 (2/4/26)
6. Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 (2/11/26)
7. Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 (2/18/26)
8. Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 (2/25/26)
9. Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 (3/4/26)
10. Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 (3/11/26)
11. Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 (3/18/26)
12. Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 (3/25/26)
13. Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 (4/1/26)
14. Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 (4/8/26)
15. Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 (4/15/26)
16. Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 (4/22/26)
17. Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 (4/29/26)
18. Wednesday, May 6th, 2026 (5/6/26)
19. Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 (5/13/26)
20. Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 (5/20/26)
21. Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 (5/27/26)
22. Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 (6/3/26)
23. Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 (6/10/26)
24. Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 (6/17/26)
25. Wednesday, June 24th, 2026 (6/24/26)
26. Wednesday, July 1st, 2026 (7/1/26)
27. Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 (7/8/26)
28. Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 (7/15/26)
29. Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 (7/22/26)
30. Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 (7/29/26)
31. Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 (8/5/26)
32. Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 (8/12/26)
33. Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 (8/19/26)
34. Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 (8/26/26)
35. Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 (9/2/26)
36. Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 (9/9/26)
37. Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 (9/16/26)
38. Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 (9/23/26)
39. Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 (9/30/26)
40. Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 (10/7/26)
41. Wednesday, October 14th, 2026 (10/14/26)
42. Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 (10/21/26)
43. Wednesday, October 28th, 2026 (10/28/26)
44. Wednesday, November 4th, 2026 (11/4/26)
45. Wednesday, November 11th, 2026 (11/11/26)
46. Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 (11/18/26)
47. Wednesday, November 25th, 2026 (11/25/26)
48. Wednesday, December 2nd, 2026 (12/2/26)
49. Wednesday, December 9th, 2026 (12/9/26)
50. Wednesday, December 16th, 2026 (12/16/26)
51. Wednesday, December 23rd, 2026 (12/23/26)
52. Wednesday, December 30th, 2026 (12/30/26)
The schedule for 2025 will appear before 12.02.2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 27.10.2024
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus 1 hour beginning on 30.03.2025
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 26.10.2024
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 27.10.2023
Wednesday, January 03, 2024
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Wednesday, February 07, 2024
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus one hour beginning on 31.03.2024
Wednesday, April 03, 2024
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Wednesday, May 08, 2024
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Wednesday, June 05, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Wednesday, August 07, 2024
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Wednesday, September 04, 2024
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Wednesday, October 02, 2024
Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 27.10.2024
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Wednesday, December 04, 2024
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
About System 50:50
The goal is to
- Create something new in a musical sense owned by those present
- Explore the possibilities of freedom and improvisation and their limits.
The approach is to
- Shape the sound with silence.
- Shape the ensemble size: moment by moment.
-
Empower musicians with agency in their contributions. Shape the music through active listening.
Description
The duration of the piece is agreed before the start of the performance..
A performer must play for 50% of the duration of the piece and remain silent for 50% of the duration of the piece
Example
If the duration of the piece is 16 minutes, the performer plays for 8 minutes and is silent for 8 mins. Each player is free to choose when they play and when they are silent within the duration of the piece but they must have a 50/50 balance between playing and being silent. It is expected that each player will improvise their music.
Quick summary using 50:50 ratio
Each player `improvises` for 50% of the piece
Each player is `tacet` for 50% of the piece
The totals are aggregated
Each player/improviser has their own clock and manages their own time
Each player has `agency` over the content they share during the performance.
System 50:50 for improvisers - Click the link for a detailed description and history.
https://www.improvisersnetworks.online/system-50-50-an-introduction
Delivered by the primary and preferred time management option:
Mechanical chess clocks are required to facilitate the aim of the system. One of the pair of dials is called ‘tacet’ and the other ‘free play’.See image above. Each performer has an individual chess clock to monitor and manage their contribution. The performer plays when the ‘free play’ dial is running down and is silent when the ‘tacet’ dial is running down.
Youtube demonstration, Duration 1 minute Ratio 50:50 or 1:1 Content, is speech, status managed by the rocker (lever): URL LINK
Link to image of an adapted chess clock URL LINK
Selected feedback about system 50:50
Simon Ross (Macclesfield), Blank Canvas Octet - Liverpool
System 50/50 works well - it’s a really good way to get a group to play effectively without egos , virtuosity , and shyness getting in the way. It is democratic, inclusive. coherent, leaderless, focused, there is room to think and time to listen, choices. It is less competitive more cooperative. Ends well.
Charlie Collins Sheffield
On system 50:50 “Definitely something with LOADS of possibilities - the reaction in the car driving back was unbelievably positive - no one could remember playing in a large ensemble that was so "open". The openness allowed me to play quietly, which meant the dynamics were incredible for an improvising large ensemble.”
Dan Goren, Oxford Improvisers.
`"It seems to me that any attempt to restrict what free improvisers play, presents a threat to the core nature of their music. Generally, 'To play or not play' is about as far as any predetermination can productively go, the player retaining (almost!) complete formal agency regarding when and what (s)he decides to play"
Richard Harding Liverpool.
``Sometimes in free improv it is just not working but we carry on in the hope it will get better, in system 50:50 if it (free improv) is not working one can select tacet and stop playing`
Jon Aveyard, Lecturer UCLan University England
`It gives me permission to do nothing`
Helen Conning, Liverpool.
It is democratic
Maggie Nicol - West Wales.
I want to buy twelve 50:50 clocks
About the {BCO)ensemble
The Blank Canvas Octet during this month in 2026 will feature the following, more or less:
MARTIN HACKETT, Korg Ms, Oxford
LYN HODNETT, voice, Wales & other
IRENE IZQUIERDO, voice, Berlin
MARIA KALNARS, piano, melodica, violin, Sheffield.
PHIL MORTON, accidents and treatments, Liverpool
CHRIS PARFITT, misc, Bridgend, Wales.
IAN ROBINSON, double bass, Sheffiled.
NICO SALL, piano, Antwerp-Belgium
GUILLERMO TORRES, sound, Spain.
lapsed members; DAN GOREN, trumpet, Chipping Norton, Nick Branton, reeds, Liverpool. SABINE KUSMAUL, guitar, Macclesfield, Gill Whiteley, Geoff Bright and Garfield Southall, CLAYTON JACKSON, electronics and objects, Silverdale
DARIUSZ BLASZCZAK, electronics, Oxford. PAUL MEDLEY. clarinet, Oxford,
You can apply to join this project and ensemble.
Please go to the `sign up` TAB
and follow the instructions.
The Blank Canvas Octet on YouTube
Duration 6 minutes
Tacet 3 minutes
Free play 3 minutes
12 players
Blank Canvas Octet on Bandcamp
click the image, to view the Bandcamp account for this project.
This newsfeed displays a list of online events known to the curaters of this site.
https://www.improvisersnetworks.online/itemlist/tag/Telematics
Sign up
The players, criteria
- This event is unsuitable for players and musicians new to the genre.
- Participation in this event is by invitation or application.
- THIS IS NOT AN OPEN SESSION. MUSICIANS, IT IS AGREED BEFORE THE DATE WHO IS PLAYING.
-
We invite experienced improvisers to apply, especially those who regularly participate in free ensemble improvisation, perform at public concerts.
- You are welcome to ask to attend if you are uncertain whether you meet the criteria. However, you may be asked to listen and discuss the options for the future.
Suggested scripts for the form
Name of event, please enter Blank Canvas Octet Online
Location:Hosted by Zoom
Comments: add your comments and any requests for support with Zoom and the associated technologies required to support online participation.
Email: please send an email, sharing your interest in this project to: philmorton@improvisersnetwork.co.uk
If an offer for this event has been created at the Eventbrite site, the following link will take you to the host account (Improvisers Networks Online) where the event will be displayed, and you can reserve your ticket
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/improvisers-networks-online-26497896907
Office use
https://www.rememberthemilk.com/app/#search/name%3Amedia+AND+list%3A%222026+02+BCO+Octet%22
Calendar
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google
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BST 31.03.2024
GMT 27.10.2024
UK Bank Holidays
Object: Eventbrite page, target London
Developed by Phil Morton over a period of twenty years.
If you have tried this method or want to know more you can attend as a member of the audience a zoom session with The Blank Canvas Octet. The Octet has been meeting and working with system 50:50 for improvisers every week since May 2020.
Tickets (limited to three) to attend are available at Eventbrite.
Object: Eventbrite page, all regions, local to global
Developed by Phil Morton over a period of twenty years.
If you have tried this method or want to know more you can attend as a member of the audience a zoom session with The Blank Canvas Octet. The Octet has been meeting and working with system 50:50 for improvisers every week since May 2020.
Tickets (limited to three) to attend are available at Eventbrite.
Object: Informal personal statement - supporting hybrid
The value of hybrid working for free improvisers should not be underestimated or I suggest we evaluate playing on zoom and in a room.
To evaluate start here: this ensemble - has met weekly every week since May 2020.
It is Wednesday night in - no cancelled trains or motorways, just people you know.
Joomla article is requenced to April 2024
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open google calendar -find the generic listing
add read more > featured > dates < test > test in different modules.
dont forget north west
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