Three Pieces for Strings

Weeks, James

About the work

Cornish String Music – 15′

Aerc – 26′ – 30′

Bee Haven – 15′ – 20′

For any number of orchestral string instruments (at least 12)

In each piece I set out to explore different ways for the players to interact in creating the global texture of the work, as reflected in the contrasting performance setups for each piece. In Cornish String Music, a tight circle folds individual players’ sound into a single mass; in ærc the players are dispersed through the space in pairs, pursuing simultaneous separate performances; in Bee Haven the players are individually arrayed through the ‘field’ of the performance space, each monad contributing to the overall sonority as perceived by the audience.