Sounder (2009)
Instrumentation: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, toy piano/keyboard, 2 percussion, with robotic sound sculpture installation
Electronics: Yes
Duration: 8'
Commissioned by the 2009 Ojai Festival with an installation from Trimpin
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NOTES: It is difficult the experience of first walking into Trimpin's studio and workshop in Seattle. The space is at once open and airy, yet teaming with instruments, wires, parts of projects old and new, toys, etc. This informed my approach to writing Sounder - serious but playful, novel but familiar, instructive but never pedantic. Sounder was commissioned by the Ojai Festival for an installation from Trimpin, together with Eighth Blackbird and guests on stage. In an ancient tree to the right of the stage, Trimpin suspended 24 wooden shoes, 6 temple blocks, 8 circular saw blades, 2 snare drums, 2 bass drums, 4 cymbals, glass bells, 3 toy pianos, and 2 maracas - all activated robotically by solenoid. These instruments are played live via midi triggering, using a 2-octave keyboard controller and with midi percussion pads. These are routed to the tree through a computer, which changes the assignments of what instruments are being triggered. In this way, musical material from the players on stage works itself into the tree — and vice versa — until the lines are completely blurred.