Stinkhorn Music for Solo Tuba

Stinkhorn Music for Solo Tuba
2020
Score with scent. Dur. 6 mins.

Performed by Jack Adler-McKean, March 2020.

For Stinkhorn Music, the tuba player is invited to tune into the smell of their instrument. This is enhanced by a small quantity of a single-molecule scent laced on the rim of mouthpiece so that the smell appears directly under the player’s nose.

The chemical is 1-Octen-3-1, an odorant responsible for the smell of brass — or blood — coming into contact with skin. The scent is also said to have a mushroomy smell.

Jack Adler-McKean is a tuba player and author. He has played in orchestras including the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He has performed solo and ensemble recitals in New York and Buenos Aires with Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Modern and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

You can view and download a PDF of the score here.

1-Octen-3-one is often used as a synthetic food additive and flavouring. For Stinkhorn Music, a diluted solution is designed to dissipate over a short time, about 5-10 minutes. The piece ends when the scent evaporates or the player’s nose has become… — 1-Octen-3-one is often used as a synthetic food additive and flavouring. For *Stinkhorn Music,* a diluted solution is designed to dissipate over a short time, about 5-10 minutes. The piece ends when the scent evaporates or the player’s nose has become desensitised to it, whichever first.