related works
Xing : for 2 conductors and ensemble / Adam Łukawski
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
fl/picc ob cl/cl-b fg 2h 2tpt trb tb 4perc hp acc 2vn vla vc db
Inventions : for brass and percussion / Peter van Onna
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
4h 4trp 3trb 2tb 3perc
Fractal harmonies : for chamber ensemble, 1990 / David Little
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
1111 1110 mar(vibr) pf 2vl vla vc cb
Birdstone : for 15 instruments / 2 groups / Ivo van Emmerik
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
1111 1110 perc hp pf 2vl vla vc cb
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