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Diving Bell (2002) for triangles and processing (excerpt) (mp3, 4.6 MB) Diving Bell invites the listener to delve deeply into the sound of the humble and magnificent triangle. By striking the triangles at different points and with different materials, and by using a handheld microphone, I extract and re-sculpt single overtones that are present in the overall sound of the instruments, hidden sounds that are normally only apparent when one holds the triangle up to their ear, like a tuning fork. With the help of tape delay modeling software, I layer these rich overtones in a structured improvisation.
The Bright and Hollow Sky (2008) for quintet with processing Commissioned and performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble: Eric Lamb - flutes, Joshua Rubin - clarinets, Peter Evans - trumpets, Joseph Brent - guitar, David Schotzko - percussion, and Adam Sliwinski - conductor
Kebyar Untai (2005) for hammered dulcimer and cello (excerpt) (mp3, 8.2 MB) Kebyar Untai is scored for amplified cello and hammered dulcimer, tuned in microtones and partially prepared with objects between the strings. It is cast in two large sections, each introduced by a kebyar and developing its distilled material. A kebyar (literally "lightning" in Indonesian) is a structure in Balinese gamelan music distinguished by explosive unison passages. Many of the gestures are conceived as persistent actions attempting to overcome or smooth a resistance.
pneApnea (2007) for alto flute and electronics (excerpt) (mp3, 5 MB) pneApnea is a journey through different types of breathing: panic, athletic, and meditative. The alto flute looks like a giant snorkel. Once upon a time, when I was snorkeling in Bali, an intense fear of drowning was replaced by an incredible experience of wonder. pneApnea was written for Claire Chase, and owes its range to her fearlessness.
Simple Songs of Birth and Return (2007) for mbira and electronics Commissioned by Douglas Perkins, Simple Songs is inspired by the essential function of (mbira) music in life rituals of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.Ê In writing these pieces, I sought to find this quality in my own musical language - a language which is not African at all, but that nonetheless seeks to have cultural relevance in my time and place.Ê Of the movements excerpted here, "A Tale Begun" is written in celebration of the birth of Douglas' first child, Jacob, and is inspired by the poem of that name by Wislawa Szymborska. "Two Shadows" is inspired by the Shona concept of the separation of one's light and dark shadows after death.
Crawlspace (2002) for amplified computer, processing, and tape (excerpt) (mp3, 2.7 MB) Crawlspace is computer music in the most literal sense. I have a noisy laptop, and after months of frustration at hearing its various whirrs in the background of quiet recordings I was making, I decided to embrace the natural sound of this instrument. All the sounds in Crawlspace are created by extremely close mic-ing of my laptop, sometimes processed in real time by said laptop, along with some digital noise spat out by an incompatible audio interface.
Rehearsing the Present (2005) (mp3, 5.5 MB) Commissioned for "Capturing the Moving Mind", a 10-day conference abord the trans-Siberian railroad, Rehearsing the Present was created from a 1 minute clip of bells and conversation that was recorded in Moscow's Red Square and emailed to me in Amsterdam. I cut up and processed the clip, sending back this piece to be premiered in Beijing a week later.
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