Intermezzo

Intermezzo is the first of a collection of pieces written in homage to romantic Mexican Composer Manuel M. Ponce and his marvelous piano music. The preparation, consisting in 12 taped down keys (between A0 and E5), 14 muted strings as well as 3 harmonic-tones, intents to subtly modify and extended the sonic palette of the instrument, by adding almost-imperceptible timbral inflections and producing a non-static background sonority which constantly transforms depending on the combination of loudness, type of attack and pitch collection that triggers it. The material used for this purpose is a scotch tape and sticky adhesive. Intermezzo was written in 2009 as a commission by the Society of Composers, Inc. and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.