Composer

:

Georges Aperghis

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1997

Average_duration

:

12:58

'Crosswind' is a contemporary music composition by the Greek-French composer Georges Aperghis. The piece was composed in 2011 and premiered on October 14, 2011, at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, France. 'Crosswind' is a solo piece for a percussionist who plays a set of instruments that are placed in a circle around them. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and musical language. The first movement, titled "Lent," is slow and meditative, with the percussionist playing a variety of instruments that produce sustained sounds, such as gongs and cymbals. The second movement, "Vif," is fast and energetic, with the percussionist playing a set of drums and other percussion instruments in a rhythmic and virtuosic manner. The third movement, "Très lent," returns to the slow and meditative character of the first movement, with the percussionist playing a set of instruments that produce delicate and subtle sounds, such as bells and chimes. One of the most striking characteristics of 'Crosswind' is its use of extended techniques, which are techniques that go beyond the traditional ways of playing an instrument. For example, the percussionist is required to use their voice in the second movement, producing a series of vocalizations that are integrated into the rhythmic patterns of the percussion. In addition, the percussionist is required to use a variety of unconventional playing techniques, such as bowing cymbals and using mallets to play the rims of drums. Another characteristic of 'Crosswind' is its use of spatialization, which is the placement of instruments in different locations around the performer. This creates a sense of movement and directionality in the music, as the sounds move from one instrument to another. Overall, 'Crosswind' is a challenging and innovative composition that showcases Aperghis's unique musical language and his ability to push the boundaries of traditional percussion music.

More....