Contour-ism III

This piece is characterized by the dance rhythm which appears intermittently. I have come to use dance rhythms more frequently in recent years,but I do not use specific dances. Repetition of a distinctive, sharply defined rhythmic pattern which sounds like it belongs to a culture somewhere (but in reality, doesn’t)gives the impression of ‘quoting' what might be called an ‘imaginary dance'. Nearly the entire trombone part is in quarter tones, which also make an appearance in multiphonic sections which combine the instrument with the sound of the performer's voice. The clear timbre and articulation of the trombone use quarter-tones to distort the clear rhythm of the dance music. The piece was premiered by Kousei Murata, to whom it is dedicated, and Kazue Nakamura.