Amplified Contrabass, Percussion Duo and Stereo Playback
ca: 6’
2008
The groundwork for this piece is entirely built upon twelve sound objects (meldings of snare and bass sounds) that were combined with each other using various transformational strategies. The nature of this material (and also the instrumentation) helped to define the two main ideas of this work: constantly shifting rhythmic/poly-rhythmic textures and the continuum between rhythm and pitch. The bass (as the main pitched instrument of the ensemble) is particularly well-suited to form the axis between these elements and is thus ultimately the focus of the piece. Essentially, it was my desire with this work to create an environment in which electronics and instruments were totally melded into one acoustical unit rather then a contrapuntal or hierarchical relationship.
This piece was premiered by Lucas Bernier, Christopher Sande (percussion) and Israel Neumann (bass) on May 10, 2009 in Iowa City.
Click here to view the score.