Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Harpsichordance Movement 1 and Harpsichordance Movement 2 complement each other as studies of tempo variation, harmonic development, and form, executed by sequencing MIDI data to control my own synthesis of a harpsichord.

In each sub-section of Movement 1, the value of the tempo rises and falls. The difference between the maximum and minimum tempo in each subsection increases as the piece approaches the middle main section, to the extent that the durational difference between sequential notes may be perceived as different rhythmic sub-divisions.

In Movement 2, the tempo of each of the two parts varies inversely, and is calculated such that each phrase within each sub-section begins and ends at the same point in time. This provides for the effect being given that the tempo of each part is actually varying independently of the other. The effect of rubato and imitation is also achieved through this method of tempo variation. The pitch structures, harmonic motion, and the basic processes by which tempo is varied, are similar to Movement 1, except in that they're practically reversed.

Work Details

Year: 2003

Instrumentation: Computer controlled harpsichord synthesis.

Duration: 24 min.

Difficulty: N/A - Not for live performance

Contents note: Movement 1 (12 min. 6 sec.) -- Movement 2 (12 min. 18 sec.).