Composer

:

Alvin Lucier

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

2002

Average_duration

:

15:27

'Ever Present' is a contemporary classical composition by American composer Alvin Lucier. The piece was composed in 2002 and premiered on October 26, 2002, at the Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA. The composition consists of three movements, each exploring the concept of sound and its relationship with space and time. The first movement, titled "Ever Present," features a single sustained note played by a solo instrument, such as a flute or a trumpet. The note is held for an extended period, and the performer is instructed to move around the performance space while playing, creating a shifting soundscape that interacts with the acoustics of the room. The second movement, titled "Still Lives," is a series of short, static soundscapes created by a group of performers playing sustained notes on various instruments. The performers are instructed to remain motionless while playing, creating a contrast with the movement of the first movement. The final movement, titled "Wind Shadows," features a group of performers playing sustained notes on wind instruments, such as flutes or clarinets. The performers are instructed to move around the performance space while playing, creating a complex, swirling soundscape that interacts with the acoustics of the room. Overall, 'Ever Present' is characterized by its exploration of the relationship between sound, space, and time. The piece challenges traditional notions of musical performance by incorporating movement and spatialization into the composition. The result is a dynamic and immersive listening experience that invites the audience to engage with sound in a new and exciting way.

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