Confined 10-1-2

Confined 10-01-2
Program Note
In this piece Russell J. Chartier explores the sense of confinement that many people feel living in large
cities despite the many people around them. The piece, created using manipulated footage shot
throughout NYC, consists of textures comprised of feedback loops uplinked to satellites then downlinked
back to Earth. These “feedback loops” were manipulated with various pieces of broadcast
equipment through the looping process and were then further manipulated in the post production
process. The textures and manipulated footage were then woven together to create this work.
The musical component of this work was created through the use of a granular sampling algorithm
developed by the composer, Paul J. Botelho The algorithm, written in the ChucK programming
language, randomly chooses small fragments (grains) from an input sound, shapes their attack and
decay, and then creates textures of user-specified density constructed of the sound fragments. The
algorithmically-generated textures were then manipulated and layered to create this work.
The piece was created through synchronicity—the composer Botelho and video artist Chartier had no
knowledge of each other's component and worked only with an agreed upon duration during the
creation of their individual pieces. Only upon the completion of both the video and audio components
were two components combined to create “Confined 10-01-2”.

Confined 10-01-2
Bio
Russell J. Chartier
Russell J. Chartier attended the College of Santa Fe. Since that time he has spent many years working
in Broadcast Television working for various networks including A&E, The History Channel, YES
Network and several others. His work in the Video Art Medium explores multiple layers and focuses
heavily on texture and color. Many of the images in his works are distorted and manipulated in various
unorthodox in an attempt to create a visual depth where recognizable images will appear within the
collage of manipulated images and textures.
Paul J. Botelho
The work of composer Paul J. Botelho focuses on the interaction between live and computer
performance. His compositions include many varied works that utilize extended techniques, alternate
tuning systems, as well as the interaction of new and old mediums. He performs as a vocalist, guitarist,
and pianist, often in improvisatory situations. Botelho has composed and performed a series of one-act
operas that incorporate live acoustic instruments and electronic components. These works encompass
all of his varied disciplines and represent the breadth of his work. He received his Ph.D. in Music
Composition from Princeton University, M.A. in Electro-Acoustic Music from Dartmouth College, and
B.F.A in Contemporary Music Composition and Performance from the College of Santa Fe. He
currently is Assistant Professor of Music Technology at Loyola University New Orleans.