related works
Nomadic Stories : for 2 dancers and 2 cellos / Adam Lukawski; libretto: Imogen Reeve
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Cello
Scoring:
2vc
Geometral : three pieces for ensemble / António Pinho Vargas
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
2121 sax-a 2120 vibr mar cel pf 2vl vla vc cb
Double Concerto : for alto/bass flute & horn solo, 10 players and electronic sounds / Luc Brewaeys
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
ob(eh) cl(cl-b) trp trb-b 2perc pf vln vla vc
Perceptions & Games : a chamber symphony / Robert Groslot
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
1(+picc) 1(+corA) 1 (+bcl) 1 / 1110 / perc (1 player) / hp / pf / strings
composition
Xing : for 2 conductors and ensemble / Adam Łukawski
Other authors:
Lukawski, Adam
(Composer)
Description:
In Chinese philosophy, before the beginning of matter, there is just nothingness - such emptiness that for a human being it is not possible to imagine it. From emptiness, borders are created (Xing) to make a form for a perceivable emptiness (Wu). Some of the other meanings of Xing are: "new beginning", "to wake up", "to conduct".
The form of the piece was inspired by the physical string theory in which collisions of gigantic string-shaped structures give birth to the new universes operating with different dimensions and physical rules. In the piece, conductors deciding tempi of separate structures causes their meetings and beginnings of new small soundscapes.
The concept of an idea of connecting different elements to create something new in a secular ritual of logic and rhetoric reminds me of the one from the last novel by Hermann Hesse - The Glass Bead Game. As this concept is very important to me, I decided to translate his poem with the same title into the rhythmical code and further incorporate it into the musical structure as a symbol in the last 90 seconds of music.
Adam Łukawski