Ko: Breath Contained III (Version for Orchestra)
Expected to ship in 2-3 weeks.
Shipping Policy- Composer: Tonia Ko (1988-)
- Instrumentation (this edition): Orchestra, Percussion
- Originally for: Chamber Orchestra, Percussion
- Work: Breath, Contained III (2023) (amplified bubble wrap)
Description
for amplified bubble wrap and orchestra, arr. 2024
Picc, 2Fl, 2Cl, BCl, 2Ob, CA, 2Bsn, CBsn, 4Hn, 3Tpt, 2Tbn,BTbn, Tba, Timp, 3Perc, Pf, Amplified Bubble Wrap, Strings
Breath, Contained is a creative practice begun in 2013 that explores air packaging, or ‘bubble wrap' as a musical instrument. What began as an academic assignment on live processing with electronics has led me to a long-term relationship with a seemingly silly object, one that has taught me much about sound, performance, and aesthetics.
Breath, Contained III is the largest iteration of the project to date, featuring amplified soloist with chamber orchestra. This concerto is a synthesis of free improvisation practice on bubble wrap and more traditional composition for orchestral instruments. Rather than designing a wholly improvised environment for the orchestra, or the soloist subscribing to Western Classical notions of specificity and virtuosity, the work imagines a third alternative space for the musicians to play together. The orchestral textures are largely fixed, yet are thoroughly informed by the pitch content, timbres, and rhythmic pacing of bubble wrap improvisation, including the use of electronics. Thus in addition to rendering acoustic bubble wrap sounds, the ensemble also reflects the various filters and resonators of my electronics set-ups and their effects on the overall sound.
The idea of bringing together disparate elements applies to other aspects of the work, merging a simple mundane object with intricate instrumental mechanisms, and chaotic noise with ordered harmony. The classic trope of ‘one versus many' in a concerto extends to the soloist's own realm, as the final section is played entirely on one bubble. On one hand, this concerto represents a utopian view, that anything can be made musical. On the other hand, it simply reflects a contemporary reality, where one is constantly dealt a chaotic, jumbled, and random set of things, out of which we can try to make some sense.
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Ko: Breath Contained III (Version for Orchestra)
