Varifications II

Chase, Stephen

About the work

Varifications II takes the form of a kind of game in which the relationships between the players are constantly being reshuffled and realigned. Players must rely on their wits as the number of cues proliferate or evaporate. It is also a mediation upon certain aspects of the music of Webern and Christian Wolff.

Technical notes

The piece is to be played without a conductor. Each player is responsible for determining from where to take their cues . To a large extent interest within the piece will arise from players anticipating one another’s moves and the confusion and frustration which will result. The piece is a set if variations, and the percussionist signals the start of each new variation.