Water Study No. 2
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Document Type
Production
Abstract
The origin of this piece is the field recording of a stream descending to the Tonatiahua pond, Mexico, in June 12, 2011, 1:27 pm. The process of writing this piece implied listening for the rhythmic and pitch patterns of the stream, which were transcribed from the recording and eventually used as the basis for the melodic and textural materials of the music. These materials are presented as monody (a single melodic line), as melody and accompaniment, and as polyphony (two or more independent melodic lines). The juxtaposition of these techniques is a metaphor of the ear shifting its attention among different sounds of the water. A goal of this piece is to incorporate the parameters of nature into musical vocabulary, which requires from the composer, the performers and the listeners a thorough attention to sounds that are not conventionally understood as “musical”. This is the latest version of the piece, which features the field recording itself with filters and other electronic transformations; electric guitar, clarinet, xylophone and non-pitched percussion.
Department
Music and Dance
Recommended Citation
Christopher Luna-Mega and The Luna Ensemble. "Water Study No. 2" Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (2017).
