Water Partitas
Water Partitas cycle through various states. Any number of string players start anywhere, go anywhere and repeat freely. Considering water in three basic states: liquid, solid and vapor, I include 54 ways water appears and disappears. These form musical gestures which inform each page of the score.
The Afield: Rebecca Fischer (violin and vocalizations) and Anthony Hawley (projections and video)
Performance documentation of Water Partitas during Matthew Offenbacher's exhibition The Lion Side of Under the Porch at INCA Institute in Seattle, August 2016
Score (scroll inside frame)
Composer
Byron Au Yong
Details
Duration: variable
Instrumentation:
Performances
May 2021
Chamber Music Program
University of Chicago, IL
2017 – 2018
The Afield Residency
Aster Montessori School, Cambridge MA
January 2017
The Afield
National Sawdust, Brooklyn NY
August 2016
Time Pieces
Bay Chamber Concerts, Union Hall, Rockport ME
August 2016
Tari Nelson-Zagar, John Teske, Alina To
INCA Institute, Seattle WA
July – August 2016
Matthew Offenbacher Exhibition
INCA Institute, Seattle WA
Description
Anthony Hawley prompted Water Partitas by commissioning a solo for his wife, violinist Rebecca Fischer, to play. We talked about travel, devotion, and water. I sketched quiet sounds.
Information scientist and violinist Tari Nelson-Zagar also prompted these partitas. She spoke about playing Bach Partitas on the streets of downtown Seattle. She wanted a contemporary pairing and commissioned a solo.
While composing the two requests in tandem, musical ideas flowed together.
Partitas are usually instrumental musical works that contains multiple parts collected into a series. For example, Partitas by J.S. Bach were often a suite of dances. These Water Partitas contain a collection of solo parts to be played in any order. The score can be arranged throughout a venue or outdoors on any size paper or screen.
Amplification and looping pedals can be used to enhance and expand sounds. Performing without electronics in an empty cistern, cathedral, or other cavernous space also works. Quiet sounds flow together, then evaporate.
Dedication
Water Partitas 1 – 9 are complete and ready to perform.
Three are dedicated for Becca at 40 from Anthony. A
Another three are dedicated to Tari. Three are dedicated to Alina To, John Teske and Matthew Offenbacher on the occasion of his exhibition at the Institute for New Connotative Action.
Contact to commission all or part of Water Partitas 10-18. Someday all the parts will sound together as string players from many backgrounds find common ground.