intimate stream[s]

String quartet intimate stream[s] was influenced by the concept of auditory streams from cognitive music theory. The study of auditory stream segregation deals with principles of sound organization into perceptually coherent structures. In my work, the idea portrays a single harmonic stream comprised of multiple melodic lines whose individual parts move from harmonicity to inharmonicity; this results in a harmonic syntax with complementary duration and loudness curves. The conceptual processes enhance the musical flux and control the varied statements of a single harmonic object; timbral variations in the quartet result not only in the melodic/harmonic contour of consonance and dissonance but also form an impression of evolving sound envelopes whose dynamic curves accompany time-varying contrapuntal arabesques. The harmonic language in the piece reflects the beginning of my research into personal harmonic grammar inspired by cognitive attributes of sound as a metaphor for musical syntax. This is notable when exploring my newly developed harmonic and rhythmic sonance modes. The title suggests the metaphor of multiple auditory streams: a discussion of four friends constantly converging on one conversational stream.

intimate stream[s] belongs to a group of my works in which I explore the interaction and reciprocity of consonance and dissonance and the uniformity and uniqueness of musical design as a direct narrative tool for portraying the musically sublime, best defined as simultaneity of tension and repose, and structural circularity and irresolvability, respectively.