composer
In the years following 2000, Michel van der Aa has quickly developed into a composer with an international reputation. Characteristic of his work are his constructivist approach to music and ...
related works
24 capriccio's voor viool solo
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Violin
Scoring:
vl
En Plo : for ensemble / Calliope Tsoupaki, 2006
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
2fl cl 2sax h trp trb tb el.g perc cel el.cb
Symphony : for 21 players, (1984 - rev. 1986) / Henri Delnooz
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
2222 sax-a 2210 perc pf 2vl vla vc cb
Triptych : for wind ensemble, electronic organ and percussion, 1990/1991 / Tom Grondman
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
3130 4sax 3441 3perc el.org
composition
Attach : for ensemble and soundtrack, 1999 / Michel van der Aa
Description:
Program note (English): (Première in Japan: 28-9-2000 - Sapporo Concert Hall - Nomad Ensemble, cond. Norio Sato). Attach is a piece with a high density of events. Central subject is the relationship of the musicians and the tape part. The tape precedes and extends the material of the musicians and challenges the players to react. It adds new overtones to chords and sequences and changes the colour of the instruments. In Attach the sounds of the ensemble and the sound track are glued together: they seem to be in line with each other, even when they contrast. The most prominent ingredient right from the start is a regular, mechanic pulse, occurring in several tempi at once. The piece opens with an exposition in which this pulse alternates with rapid unisono passages and long-held chords that are strangely discoloured by the electronic sounds attached to them. Then follows a much quieter music, in which a perspicacious listener may recognize the opening section of Above, now reduced to a skeleton of
unraveled chords. This quiet, reflective texture is gradually invaded by pulse beats and faster notes until the music explodes into a headlong rush of alternating lightning phrases, hammered chords and dramatic pauses, that gradually intertwine and culminate in a feverish tutti in which the unison has given way to a rapid succession of chords (the same ten chords that underlie the whole trilogy). At last the movement stops short in a furious attachment, after which the calm counter-music takes over the discourse. This, however, is soon disrupted by intruding dry pulses, which go on to end the piece by themselves. 'Attach' is part of the 'Preposition trilogy - Above, Between, Attach'. Each part focuses on a specific positioning of the musical material. - MICHEL VAN DER AA