Output details

Diesis

How might timbral and sonic phenomena such as beating tones – found in microtonal intervals such as the lesser diesis (a diminished second that equates to c. 41 cents) – function as a compositional resource rather than unwanted interference?

Dieses were historically considered undesirable dissonant intervals that would arise when tuning instruments utilising pre-equal tempered tuning systems, such as quarter-comma meantone. Diesis looks to subvert this perception by embracing the dissonant qualities that once made a diesis undesirable: its complex timbre and beating tones.

Timbre is primarily interrogated by realtime digital signal processing (DSP) and its relationship with the live player, through layered delays, filtering and blurred spectrums (see portfolio for software patches). Beating tones are embedded within the rhythmic material of the live part, superimposing augmented beating-tone patterns taken from varied diesesic intervals.

Spectator immersion is realised by the live electronics, diffused via a multichannel speaker array, which surrounds the audience. The auditor is placed within the work, which provides a more intimate and detailed listening experience. Speaker placement enables the projection of discrete timbres across a panoramic field, which provides refined localization and movement of sound. Furthermore DSP expands the capabilities of the double bass, utilising amplification, filtering and delay in order to interrogate, skew and expand the instrument’s textural and timbral attributes, that would be otherwise imperceptible.

Commissioned by the London Sinfonietta for double bass and multichannel live electronics, Diesis was funded by the Boltini Trust and the John S Cohen Foundation. The piece premiered as part of Sonic Britain Festival at Kings Place, Hall 1, London 11/10/2011 with bassist Enno Senft and electronics by the composer and Sound Intermedia (quadraphonic mix included in the portfolio). The premier performance was immediately streamed online by the London Sinfonietta, then commercially released on the CD New Music Show in October 2012 (see portfolio).