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Basalt-E (1990-92) |
1perc/str (10111)/solo tbn - 8'
This piece was first performed by Brett Kelly and the Elision Ensemble conducted by Sandro Gorli in Melbourne on 10 May 1992. It is derived from 'basalt' for solo trombone by the addition of four strings and percussion, and forms the fourth of five interlocking 'movements' which constitute 'Negatives' for nine instruments. It is dedicated to Liza Lim. In 'basalt' the constituent actions of sound production are, as in air, split away from one another, reassembled, as if straining into new configurations which themselves disintegrate, as if straining towards an elusive articulacy.The music for the 'unnaccompanying' ensemble consists of a sequence of formal/textual models whose own inexorable disintegration takes two alternative forms of its twisting and convulsive course, or obstructed by a gradual build up od decaying 'memories' of previous materials.In comman with the rest of 'Negatives', physical/geological images played a poetic role in the conception of the music, such as, in this case, the erosion of hard surfaces or strata into granularity. Such a composition, once more, can arise from an intense relationship with the solo instrument in question.My 'imaginary trombone' as manifested in 'basalt', is indebted for its conception especially to Barrie Webb and Brett Kelly, both of whom have given inspiring performances of 'Earth' for trombone and percussion, but also, by the example of their own music, Ray Anderson, George Lewis and Paul Rutherford.
© Richard Barrett, 1995