Samsara

For 20 strings [(violin 1 (6), violin 2 (5), viola (4), cello (3), double bass (2)]

Samsara in Sanskrit refers to constant flow, the round of mortaility, the endless flux of birth and death.

The techniques comprise expanded string writing utilizing bow speed, bow pressure, bow rotation, bow placement, microtonal tunings.  The sound world begins inside a tone and slowly expands within that tone to become the inner world of chaos – much like the inner world of a subatomic particle.  In effect, this work explores the notion of the bandwidth of a single tone or unity of tones within the singly perceived band.

The work is spiritual at its most intimate core.  The life-reaffirming search applied to strings remembers a beginning and an end.  Beauty is suggested subtly and vigorously.  The peace of Norway and the energy of Berlin.