Long Metrics. I like to think they might add to longer ranging thinking, who knows. I do like how they create an timescape both unified and varied. While not giving too much away, one of the pieces I am working on is in 108 and uses much of my ensemble of instruments. At times I condense my pattern but at one point (maybe more, I am not done yet) I expand it out to 175.
Picture over the first row, 8 8 5 8 5 8 5 and the pattern is simpler than might be assumed. I had put up the numbers originally when writing this but I felt it destroyed the look which i really the reason i put it up. Most of these cross patterns, these being for three voices I work out by hand. But it was quite unwieldy in this case. I resorted to pasting one to the wall and this took over a meter, and the pattern to add had to be twice this length to compare all the options. Since the choice is based on taste, it is not really 'systematic'. Other non picture factors are at play. Finally I did resort to the computer to work it out and the real reason I put it up is I find it rather pleasing to look at. The dark dot is the actual Nuclear melody, the x a marimba, the star a vibraphone. The funny thing is pieces like can be only 12-13 bars long
