steve antosca
elements ~ five transfigurations for cello and computer
elements was commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University. elements was composed for and is dedicated to cellist Tobias Werner, who premiered the composition.
elements explores aspects of extended techniques and performance gestures, timbre, sonic characteristics and computer processing for the cello. William Brent developed the technology for elements, in close collaboration with the composer.
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The music in elements blends these extended performance techniques with real-time computer processing. This interaction between performer and computer generates a sound environment where they become a unified and "essentially equal” instrument. The symbol ≃ in the movement titles represents asymptotic equivalence, meaning that through their blending and transfiguration the sounds approach equivalency. They eventually become essentially equal, but are never the same. The symbol ≃ can be read as “like”.
The five movements of elements are
flow ≃ water
drift ≃ time
float ≃ cloud
pulse ≃ air
speak ≃ night
Movement i. flow ≃ water introduces multiple extended techniques in elements. These include harmonic glissandi, indeterminate pitch boxes, and extended glissando gestures both smooth and irregular. Exploitation of various bowing styles, placement and pressure are played with throughout flow ≃ water.
Movements ii. drift ≃ time and iii. float ≃ cloud are nearly identical but several of the performance gestures are exchanged from one movement to the other, and the degree and style of computer processing differs in each movement.
Movement iv. pulse ≃ air is a languorous exploration of pizz. notes, including snap or Bartok pizzicati and arpeggiated chords, which are altered through various computer processes.
Movement v. speak ≃ night returns to some of the extended techniques from flow ≃ water with a lengthy, mellifluous conclusion to elements.
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elements ~ five transfigurations for cello and computer was premiered by Tobias Werner, 'cello and William Brent, computer on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in the West Garden Court in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.