The form of this piece is a spiral; a slow evolution in density and intensity until the fission of individual elements at high speed creates a perceptual phenomenon called ‘streaming’. The word ‘stream’ is also related etymologically with rhythm; both are rooted in the Greek ‘rhein’ meaning ‘to flow’. The acoustic sound sources for the tape are a wide variety of percussion instruments, including antique cymbals, glockenspiels and gongs. The tape part was recorded and mixed in the electronic music studio of McGill University.
Listen (excerpt)
helen hall 