al tallone (2018)

for string trio

A deceptively simple concept underlies this work: each of the musicians performs exactly one bow stroke on their instruments — an upbow… over the course of 15 minutes. A fantastically tense and captivating dramaturgical flow results as the performers pull sound out of the strings using microscopic movements of the bow hairs across the string, uncommon twistings of the bow and even the bow’s ivory inlays pressed against, bouncing on, striking and skating across the string surface. A fabulous array of sounds is produced using varying degrees of pressure and speed of the bow, which always remains in contact with at least one string.

Although virtually every sound and movement is composed, choreographed and precisely notated in a microscopic manner, this “action notation” nevertheless leaves room for interpretive freedom, such that the piece can be appreciated as much for its choreography as its musical content. An intimate exploration of one of the most important foundational aspects of string playing — bowing technique.

al tallone was commissioned by ensemble recherche with the support of the canada council for the arts.  click on the images below to view excerpts of the score, or download the entire score (there are no parts) from the menu on the right.  contact the composer to request performance materials.

 

TRAILER — ensemble recherche performing jef chippewa’s al tallone at morat-institut in freiburg (germany) on 13 february 2018.  melise mellinger (violin), paul beckett (viola) and åsa åkerberg (cello).

programme note for “al tallone” (2018)

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chippewa — al tallone (programme note)

score excerpt from “al tallone” (2018)

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chippewa — al tallone (score excerpt)

score excerpt from “al tallone” (2018)

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chippewa — al tallone (score excerpt)

performance information and history

commissioned by ensemble recherche with the support of the canada council for the arts.  for information on obtaining high-quality printed performance materials, contact the composer.

  • [180213] ensemble recherche — premiere: freiburg konzert 3 “gesammelt”, morat-institut, freiburg (germany)

editions of the score and parts:
2018-02 — premiere version
2018-09 — revised version

 

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