For string quintet
This piece emerged from the composer’s exploration of graphic notation, dedicating part of their practice to experimenting with visual elements as a basis for musical expression. Among various études, one in particular captured their interest for its compelling use of shapes and unique interplay between graphic and musical ideas, inspiring the composer to develop it into a full composition.
The work is rooted in the visual and musical interpretation of curved lines, especially glissandi-like arcs and circular forms. For instance, a full circle is divided into two semicircles, each to be interpreted by a different instrument, creating a sense of cutting or “halving” the musical material. This visual approach evokes a feeling of dissecting and contrasting elements, which the composer translated into sound, allowing instruments to interact as complementary halves of a whole.
In building the composition, the composer treated different graphic and musical elements as motifs, constructing the work by exploring how these fragments could develop and interact. After digitizing these visual sketches, they transformed them into a cohesive piece that reflects the theme of division and balance. This process led to a composition where visual forms and musical content merge, embodying the act of dividing, contrasting, and harmonizing to create a unified artistic expression.
Final score PDF and VST-rendered audio: