SOMETIMES II (2016/2017)
for amplified ensemble, sampler, 2-4 thunderbolts with transducers + live electronics
for Ernst Surberg and Bettina Wackernagel
Duration: ca. 7 min.
Commissioned by the 'Heroines of Sound' festival
WP: 08.07.2017, Radialsystem-BerlinEnsemble Mosaik, conductor: Christoph Breidler,
Electronics: Daniel Plewe
Performance material available from Boosey & Hawkes
Instrumentation:
1(+picc).1(+bassob).1(+bcl).barsax(+ssax)-0.0.0.0-perc(1)- pft(+org,sampler)-vln.vla.vlc.
Programme note
"SOMETIMES II" is in many ways a tongue-in-cheek homage to the female protagonist named 'Bess' from the film 'BREAKING THE WAVES' by Lars von Trier, a film that was also the starting point for my last work written for Ensemble Mosaik called 'Breaking'.
SOMETIMES II is a short, at first glance 'simple' piece that begins almost minimalistically, is sometimes - sometimes - interspersed with very short soloistic, quasi-free interludes and ends in a strangely groovy part led by the piano and supported by all the other musicians.
The amplified ensemble is framed by four thunder sheets, which are equipped with transducers and are repeatedly - sometimes - made to resonate by the microphoned timpani or the timpani player.
The title refers to a quote from the above-mentioned female character (Bess) from the film in question, which reads: 'Sometimes - we have a spiritual contact'.
Iris ter Schiphorst