Kin (percussion and electronics)

9:55

Kin

commissioned by a consortium of 20 percussionists: Andrew Barlow, Joe Bergen, Matt Bronson, Brian Calhoon, Mckenzie Camp, Omar Carmenates, Sean Connors, Maria Finkelmeier, Benjamin Fraley, Joshua Hill, Terry Longshore, Ian Rosenbaum, Annie Stevens, Jesse Strauss, Mark Utley, Mike Zellers, Devon Cupo, Cynthia Huang, Kevin Moran, Jack Motherway

recorded live at the Yale School of Music's Sprague Hall by Joe Bergen

One aspect of notated music that has always been somewhat unfortunate in my opinion is that, aside from general expressiveness, a performer is often left out of the the actual creative process when it comes to the commissioning of a new work. When Joe Bergen approached me with the idea of writing a new piece for a consortium of percussionists, I immediately thought that the project could be very interesting if each of these fantastic players contributed something unique to the music. I wanted this piece to be written with each one of them in mind, taking into account their own idiosyncratic approach to their instruments. Each performer in this consortium is asked to contribute an element to be included in the new work, perhaps a special technique or a recording of themselves playing, something that can then be used as an element in the electronic component or written into the score. This percussion piece will bring together the voices of many into one personal object.