Chamber Music
Knife-Edge (2022)
Knife-Edge – for 11 musicians and electronic sound
Knife-Edge was composed in 2022 as the world was beginning to return to normal after living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Using long, slowly evolving sustained melodic passages, the piece conveys a sense of detachment and an emotional numbness reflecting today’s intense polarization, social acceleration, misinformation, separation, and aloneness. The instruments are played con sordino to further portray a feeling of pressure and confinement.
Cello is the lead melodic instrument. Its voice depicts the solitary human (soul) voice trying to make sense of its surroundings. The piece attempts to find beauty amongst the sonic clamor and this tension is wrestled with throughout the piece.
The electronic sound evokes a desolate, dystopian landscape employing static, white noise, and shrill metallic sounds.
Instrumentation
Trumpet in Bb
Horn in F
Trombone (with F attachment)
Tuba
Brass plays con sordino throughout
Percussion 1 (Crotales, Tam-Tam, Bass Drum)
Percussion 2 (3 suspended cymbals, Snare Drum)
Piano
Violin
Viola
Cello
Contrabass
Electronic Sounds/Computer Performer
The score requires an individual familiar with audio technology to manage all sound cues. The electronics performer should be familiar with following a music score (extensive details on requirements for the computer/electronic part can be found in the score).
Clicking the link below will open the score in a new browser tab.