1. Golden Flower Piece performed by Andrew Ball, piano, at St Silas Church, London 1993 (first version)

2. Golden Flower Piece performed by Andrew Ball, piano, at St Silas Church, London 1993 (second version)

This piece was prepared for John Tilbury as an exercise in assertion by denial. In what seems to be a free improvisation ranging the length of the keyboard certain absences become apparent. The octaves either side of middle C are not available, nor anywhere on teh keyboard is B flat (A sharp) available. Other tendancies are also noted as the piece progresses, since links of note clusters have to be made rapidly. Different performances may have entirely different characters but the cards are, so to speak, marked so that the score is in command.

Transcription of notes on score
The octaves either side of middle C should not be used. Letters can be read as natural, flat or sharp save that B flat (A sharp) should not be played at all. E and A should predominantly be flats. Uppercase letters to be in the bass, lowercase in the high register. Extreme contrasts (v.loud v.soft v.fast v.slow) throughout. Other information vis duration expression etc. to be gathered from the dot formation surrounding each unit. Units may be played singly or in parts as long as a line joining a part (or an extension of it) would not pass through the central square inch field. Each unit must be played at least once.