the relations of luminous to illuminated bodies (2023) for two pianos and two percussion
Program Note
“The relations of luminous to illuminated bodies”, which is a heading found within the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, refers to objects that generate their own light versus objects that reflect light (e.g. the sun and the moon). I used this idea as a way to conceptualize the timbral relationship between pianos and crotales, the latter of which have a longer, more glowing sustain. The piece begins with both percussionists holding harmonic nodes and plucking strings inside the pianos, creating a kind of dark, glinting moonscape of sound. The piece ends with both percussionists bowing a set of crotales, effectively backlighting a simple two-voice progression and extending the resonance of the pianos.
Duration: 6 minutes.
Premiered by Yarn/wire on January 30th, 2023 in Princeton, NJ