Nick Bentz
ataxia
for violin and
piano four-hands
Perusal copy notforperformance
Shattered Arcana Press
performance notes
piano
- + = palm mute inside piano
violin
- + = left-hand pizzicato
-sp = sul pont; st = sul tasto; msp = molto sul pont; mst = molto sul tasto
general
-glissandi last the entire duration of the note marked
-accidentals last through the bar without octave displacement
program note
ataxia is the medical term for a neurological deficit that manifests as a lack of voluntary coordination among the muscles of the body. As I was writing this piece I was concerned with the way that harmonies can be developed across time, especially how harmonies can arise from jerking motions and surprising changes of texture. The piece begins with an extended unravelling from pitch into harmony, after which four melodic cells are introduced. These cells are then recontextualized as windows of harmony that interrupt the development of the piece, which fights to retain control over its forward motion. ataxia was commissioned by HOCKET as part of their Composer/Performer Initiative.
DURATION: 7’
Perusalcopy notforperformance
gossamer q=60
Violin
Commissioned by HOCKET for their Composer/Performer Initiative for Sarah and Thomas
Piano 1
touch nodes for 3rd partial harmonic
gossamer q=60
touch nodes for 5th partial harmonic in range provided
Piano 2
Nick Bentz (2021)