Cradles

first performance: ‘Speak Percussion’; Haus der Berliner Festspiele, March 2013 — commissioned by Maerzmusik Berlin and Julian Burnside — instrumentation: two reel-to-reel tape machines, amplification, cut audio tape, suspended bells, finger cymbals, various assorted shakers, castanets, Japanese toy drums, carious assorted chimes (shels, wood, goats’ toe nails, light bulbs, light metal etc.), glockenspiel / electric piano (doubling transistor organ), or playback — duration variable / 2013

Cradles is a lullaby that helps put treasured analogue musical equipment to bed. The work takes its inspiration from the sensuous, tactile relationship between performer and their instrument. The piece is dedicated to ‘Speak Percussion’ for whom it was written, and to Julian Burnside, whose generous financial support made the commissioning of the work possible. (TM)