Block structures, multi-layering and memory. Composition portfolio: Commentary

Abstract

This commentary accompanies a portfolio of nine compositions written between October 2006 and June 2009. This commentary traces the development of a range of compositional ideas throughout the portfolio. These revolve around the creation of multilayered textures where all the material and all subtle variations thereof are audible, leading to an investigation of rhythmical block durations and the role of memory. The context in which these ideas arose is provided through discussion of specific existing work that closely relates to the portfolio, in particular by John Cage, Morton Feldman, György Ligeti and Giacinto Scelsi.