Aftertouch

Program Notes

Dedicated to Claire Chase. Aftertouch is a MIDI keyboard parameter that senses the pressure applied to a key after it has been initially played. In this way, the volume, vibrato, or a filter can be manipulated and controlled for expressive ends.

Inspired by Claire Chase’s individualistic, virtuosic and kaleidoscopic playing, this work experiments with the boundless timbres she generates through gesture-based sound sculpting, improvisation, and the full spectrum of flute techniques, in dialogue with overlapping electronic beats. It grooves along simultaneously with artist Polly Appelbaum’s floor projection of spinning singing bowls. Special thanks to electronics assistant Russell Greenberg, Levy Lorenzo and Jacob Sokolov Gonzalez.

– Wang Lu