Program Note for 13 Loops (1988)
This piece reflects my interest at the time in attempting to create a synthesis of an extended serial pitch language with repetitive and transformative techniques usually associated with minimalism. In the outer sections the flute begins looping passages which are taken up by the rest of the ensemble. As the loop texture evolves, a transition occurs from elaborate aeperiodic material to a simpler motoric music that then serves as an accompaniment, as the flute assumes the role of soloist. The center section begins with a flute cadenza, then develops a series of solos for all the instruments. The solos are then compressed gradually into a dense contrapuntal texture that evaporates, once again leaving the flute alone to play a cadenza.
All the musicians play into microphones which are connected to a computer controlled mixer and signal processor. This allows for a variety of digital effects (delay, flanging, chorusing, reverb, etc.) to be assigned to the instruments at different times throughout the piece.
13 loops was written for the California E.A.R. Unit, and is dedicated to the flutist Dorothy Stone. It was commissioned by the Fromm Foundation at Harvard University.
Ensemble
vibraphone
marimba
(1 player)
bass clarinet cello
solo flute violin
(and piccolo)
conductor
left loudspeaker right loudspeaker
Electronics
High quality microphones on all instruments are fed to a Yamaha ProMix digital mixing processor and a Lexicon PCM-70 digital effects processor. The mixers output is sent to a high quality amplifier and pair of loudspeakers on the stage in front of the conductor (see above). This equipment amplifies the instrumental signals and also performs a number of effects on them at different times throughout the piece. The effects include reverb, paning, delay, chorusing, harmonizing and flanging.