BEHRMAN, DAVID - Unforeseen Events

1991 release. -¢‚Ǩ-ìUnforeseen Events is one of many pieces David Behrman has made with computer software designed to interact in real time with a solo performer. The four sections recorded here were made specifically with Ben Neills performance style in mind. The electronic timbres are intended to complement the sounds of his instrument, the admirable and humorous mutantrumpet, with its three separately-mutable and playable bells. Refractive Light consists of three small pieces based on an interweaving and overlapping of simple phrases. A musician strikes pitches that trigger responses in the form of sustained tones. The tones die out after a few seconds. While a tone is on it deflects the pitches of other "on" tones, so that harmonic changes occur at the on-and-off edges of overlappping layers. The idea can give rise to a kind of fanning or breathing rhythm that adapts itself to different styles of playing, and to a harmonic vocabulary with dozens or scores of family members.-¢‚Ǩ¬ù - XI.