James Dillon Introitus (1989–90) 6Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, 2Db, Tape and Live Electronics duration: 28 minutes Published by Edition Peters (EP7408) First performance: May 1990, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris Ensemble Intercontemporain, IRCAM technicians, conducted by Peter Eötvös Commissioned by IRCAM River: [ME, (O) Fr. riviere] “a copious stream or flow of something (e.g. water flowing in a channel towards the sea or ocean).” “one who rives who tears apart, who severs, divides or cleaves, to split by means of shock, violent impact or pressure.” [Shorter Oxford Dictionary] Introitus is the eighth in a series of nine works begun in 1982 with the generic title of Nine Rivers. Each of the nine works represents an evolving and interlocking set of orchestrations, where the conceptual basis for scaling, pattern and transformation are derived from a conflation of the title river as both flow and disruption Introitus is organised as a palimpsest of three superposed layers: 1) Twelve strings (6 vlns, 2 vlas, 2 v’celli and 2 C’bass) 2) Computer-generated tape 3) Live electronics (sound transformation and spatialisation) These interdependent strata function not simply to perform a coherent unity a symbiosis but cite their own deconstruction. Introitus within the context of Nine Rivers may be viewed as an estuary (L. aestuare, to surge, foam as the tide), a tidal delirium opened up by the employment of computer technology. 1 ) The twelve strings are subdivided into 3 groups Peters Edition Limited Hinrichsen House 10-12 Baches Street London N1 6DN Tel: 020 7553 4030 Fax: 020 7490 4921 e-mail:
[email protected] internet: www.editionpeters.com James Dillon 4 vlns; string quartet; and vla, v’cello, 2 c’ bass Musical material in part either echoes events from previous Nine Rivers works or in common with previous works is constructed around an interaction of prototypical patterns, spirals, branching and meanders, (with turbulence – see below) these patterns are identified in morphology theory as lying at the basis of most natural formations.