Tremolo aims to evoke sensations of tension and resolution through states of instability and stability in sound. “Listening in” to even quite simple sound forms can reveal constellations of growth, decay and shifting spectral colour while the barest and most neutral sound-type, the digitally generated sine tone, is easily perturbed when interacting with other sounds, or can give complex sounds a twist in harmonic focus.

In this work, I have aimed to evoke layers of tension through the emergence of relatively turbulent gestural-figurative materials projected out of and into more static but spectrally rich fusions of timbre, and through varying phases of initiation and response between instrumental and electroacoustic agencies.

[xi-24]

Tremolo was commissioned by the Electroacoustic Music Studios — Eastman (EMuSE). Special thanks to Mikel Kuehn and the trio of Eastman musicians for making this project possible.

Premiere

• November 1, 2024, Jacob Eichhorn, bass clarinet; James Marshall, viola; Hannah Harnest, piano • John Young Guest Composer Concert, Hatch Recital Hall — Eastman School of Music, Rochester (New York, USA)