On the composition:
Exit was written in 19-tone equal temperament (19TET). This consonant tuning contains fifths that are only slightly lower than just fifths as well as other intervals in close approximation to just intervals such as the major third (5/4) and the harmonic seventh (7/4). The piece is based on five different harmonic series—all of them containing a g being either the third, fifth, seventh, ninth or eleventh partial. The harmonic series were adjusted to 19TET and notated in standard eighth-tone notation. When performing, the performers needs to bear in mind that eighth-tone notation can only approximate 19TET with a maximum error of 12.5 cts (which is considerably less then the Pythagorean comma, though). Nonetheless, it is desirable that the piece is performed as accurately as possible. He/she is should therefore familiarize himself/herself with the scale (a practice CD is available from the publisher upon request.)
Electronics:
Exit requires a second performer executing and controlling MAX/MSP patches. MAX is a graphical programming environment for the Apple Macintosh which was mainly developed for musical purposes. The performer uses a microphone for real-time audio processing. There is no prerecorded material except for the playback of the poem (written and spoken by Jean Wong).
Setup:
Exit requires a PowerMacintosh G3 or G4 computer equipped with a multichannel sound card running at 400 MHz and with 64 MBytes of free RAM as well as a quadraphonic playback system .