Chordochromies
(2003)
for harpsichord and computer-realized sound
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Gośka Isphording, harpsichord Amsterdam, 2003
Alina Ratkowska, harpsichord Warsaw, December 8, 2010
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Written for and dedicated to Gośka Isphording
Chordochromies consist of three miniatures, exposing different aspects of harpsichord timbre and means of artistic expression.
Movement 1 makes a reference to a tradition of a virtuoso performance, being a kind of capriccio or etude. Movement 2 explores the natural resonance of the instrument as well as reveals some hidden layers of harpsichord spectrum. Movement 3, after a slow introduction of a virtual harpsichord, being a remembrance of a real one from movement 2, suddenly turns into a dance.
The electronic layer explores in depth timbre of a harpsichord and is mostly based on its sampled and processed sound. I attempted to construct a "virtual harpsichord" which was intended to be somehow an extension of a real instrument. Most features of my virtual harpsichord (such as timbre alteration or extraction of a noise component) are results of modifications of harpsichord's spectrum, based on sound analysis and resynthesis techniques (created with the use of the CLM sound synthesis and processing language and ATS algorithms, developed by Juan Pampin). Larger structures such as musical phrases were created with the use of Super Collider.
Unlike a real harpsichord, the virtual one could allow for dynamic changes and accents as well as unlimited fast repetitions of sounds. Its pitch range is continuous which allows to perform glissandi and microtonal intervals. For instance, in the last movement each semitone was divided into 5 steps, which resulted in a "well-tempered" microtonal harpsichord).
- Ewa Trębacz |
PREMIERE November 17, 2003
Concierto Nocturnal Uilenburger Synagoge Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Performances and Events
| December 6, 2018 | Nowa Muzyka w Starym Ratuszu (New Music in the Old City Hall) , Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, Ratusz Staromiejski, Gdańsk, Poland. Alina Ratkowska, harpsichord. |
| November 25, 2016 | Festival "Słuchalnia" , LabSen CSW, Toruń, Poland. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| September 11, 2016 | Salon Muzyczny Chóru Polskiego Radia w Willi Decjusza, Kraków, Poland. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| April 28, 2016 | F++contrapunkt++ Dialog der Kulturen: Polen | Musikland Polen: von Mazurka bis Metalmania, Goethe-Forum, Munich, Germany. Live broadcast by BR Klassik Radio. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| December 8, 2010 | Festival "Portaits of Composers" (Portrety Kompozytorów), Warsaw, Poland. Alina Ratkowska, harpsichord. |
| August 14, 2010 |
Procembalo 2010 |
| February 19, 2008 | Festival Musica Polonica Nova, Oratorium Marianum, Wrocław, Poland. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| September 20, 2007 | Kraaklink @ ZXZW Festival, Tilburg, the Netherlands. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| December 17, 2006 | Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| November 21, 2006 | Les mains rouges, Festival Musica Experimento, Goethe Institut, Rome, Italy. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| November 9, 2006 | The British Music Information Centre (BMIC), London, UK. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
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April 5, 2006 |
Radio broadcast, Polish Radio program II. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. Concert recording from Musica Polonica Nova: The Roentgen Connection on Musica. |
| February 18, 2006 | Festival Musica Polonica Nova, Wrocław, Poland. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| November 27, 2005 | Lublin Philharmonic Concert Hall, Lublin, Poland. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| May 17, 2005 | 17th International Festival "Days of Kraków Composers", Kraków, Poland. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| December 12, 2004 | Bethanienklooster, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| March 28, 2004 | Radio broadcast, Conzertzender, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| March 26, 2004 | Theater Kikker, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |
| November 17, 2003 | Premiere: Concierto Nocturnal, Uilenburger Synagoge, Amsterdam. Gośka Isphording, harpsichord. |