Túneles

Túneles
Túneles is inspired by a quantum mechanics effect called "quantum tunneling", consisting on the ability of a particle to cross (or tunnel through) a potential energy barrier where classical physics would conclude that the particle did not have enough energy to do so. This is due to the wave nature of particles at the quantum level: there will always be a finite probability of finding the particle on the other side of the barrier unless this is infinitely high or wide. Musically, in Túneles, certain events with "higher" energy (in terms of loudness, pitch or other properties) than the average events just happen from nowhere, with no preparation or anticipation, similarly to the quantum tunneling effect, and this constitutes the driving force of the piece. As the piece progresses, these events dominate, creating a "higher" overall energy level towards the end. Thus, the macro-form of the piece could be described as a shift from one energy level to another, produced by different "musical tunnels" that happen in the music. Túneles was premiered by Masahito Sugihara on May 2005 at the Block Museum of Art, at the Northwestern University New Music Marathon contemporary music festival, in Evanston, Illinois, USA.