Mechanical principles

Dedicated to the Ergon Ensemble 

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Modernity in the 1930s. Depiction of the technological achievements through an artistic kaleidoscope. An artistic microscope that questions the nature of mechanical movements. Anthropomorphic idioms are extracted out of the machinery through the manipulation of rhythmical fragments and motives: an imitation of suggestive body acts, of their impulsive principles. The music corresponds likewise to these mechanical fluctuations, while repetitive motives are filtered within a sonar environment of a single tetrachord (hijaz tetrachord) and its annexes. 

 

The music was initially conceived for Ralph Steiner’s movie from 1930. It can either be performed as an accompanying piece to the movie (exact time stamps given in score), or as an independent chamber music work. 

 

Winner of the Call for works at the 6th Pharos International Contemporary Music Festival and premiered by the Ergon Ensemble in Cyprus in 2014, to whom it is dedicated.