​Pale Flower IV and Pale Flower IVb (2021)

Instrumentation - 
violin (IV) or viola (IVb) solo

Duration - ca. 8'30''

Performance history - ​
May 22, 2021, Mikhail Krutik, St Petersburg, Russia (IV)
December 12, 2021, Como, Italy, Silvia Concas (IVb)
April 10, 2022, Larissa, Greece, Sophie Schaffleiner (IV)

Programme Notes - 
In this piece, the colour of each string is distorted slightly differently from one string to another. Distortions are realised via either objects (clothespin, paperclip, mute, and so on) placed on the string or via unusual ways of bowing. The goal is to create a multidimensional depiction of fragility questioning one's prototypical memories towards both string timbre and absolute pitch.

Multiple sonic streams are then composed upon these distorted colours for emotional effect. In common practice music such as that from the Romantic period, this kind of power through emotion is generally familiar to listeners. Now, in this piece, the sonic distortions render unfamiliar this familiar emotional power. Anamorphosis appears inside of the listening experience. This anamorphosis, or alienation, is what I am hoping to depict...

Recording by Silvia Concas




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© 2022 by Zhuosheng Jin.