Скачать или смотреть Topos (2016-17) for vibraphone and electronics

12 March 2017
Smith Recital Hall, University of Illinois
Nik Erickson, vibraphone

The Greek "topos" (literally "place") is the root word for "topic," "topology," and "topography." According to topic theorists, a musical topic is an archetypical narrative or style (e.g. "alla Turca" or "Sturm und Drang"). A more recent trend in contemporary music theory is to borrow from mathematics elements of the subdiscipline of topology , comparing harmony and voice leading to geometrical entities which contort and permute in fascinating ways. The study of topography is obviously concerned with layouts of physical surfaces. The three areas of study intersected in my thinking which went into this piece: how can I write a piece for vibraphone and electronics (using the rhetorical devices and other electroacoustic "topics" I've imbibed over the last few years), which is harmonically (or "topologically") colorful and interesting, which is at the same time ergonomically pleasing to the performer (i.e. it lies well on the "topography" of the vibraphone)? This piece is the result of my inquiries. Oh, and it also quotes the beginning of Bach's Chaconne from BWV 1004, which Nik and I had long hoped would find its way onto his recital!