Theodor Burkali
DECODER
Duration: 9'
Instrumentation details:
soprano saxophone in Bb
alto saxophone in Eb
tenor saxophone in Bb
baritone saxophone in Eb
DECODER
Translation, reprints and more
Theodor Burkali
DECODER
Available digitally
Orchestration: für Saxophonquartett
Type: Dirigierpartitur
Sample pages
Audio preview
Work introduction
A musical term with 4 letters (B.A.C.H.) appears encoded in this work. The work represents an imaginary journey of these text data, which appear as pure information carriers, coming from the inside of an digital device, on the display as expressive content. At the beginning, the letters / sounds flash in all kinds of mathematical variations at breakneck speeds. At first, one perceives only a cluster. Through the temporal expansion of these motifs, one gradually hears the four tones B.A.C.H. more and more clearly, until it comes to a standstill. The 4 letters are decoded here in a harmonic context. Each letter is given a harmonic function and together they form a cadence, from which a euphoric song blossoms. Before the last final chord, the initial motif from the encoding process sounds for another millisecond like a playback error of an digital device.
Commissioned by the Mobilis Saxophone Quartet