During the last week I was analyzing and investigating in depth the Debussy string quartet.
This unique way of writing, officially called “impressionism,” is something I feel has not yet received the development it should have received throughout the years, and therefore is something I was always interested in. The exploration aspect of those harmonies, and the way they appear, often light up my imagination along a path of combination between things that only seem almost obvious after they have been combined, which is a path I often try to explore. I think we can learn a lot from this musical language - about freedom and conservatism hand in hand.
Here are 3 totally fragmented sketches from the last days. None has been developed in any way, but I thought it’s worth sharing them so you could get a sense of this raw “lab stage” that often occurs during my work. Sometimes it can last for a pretty long time until I feel I’ve found something worth exploring.
Listen here: https://on.soundcloud.com/3gcc6Ugynhe1VHzc9Q
The first - “The Start of Greetings” is very simply a practice and study inspired by the Debussy string quartet. Please try not to mind the sound of those MIDI strings there. They are there just as placeholders.
The second - “Fragmented Drum Patch” is an attempt to capture this atmosphere, but now with straight harmony stacks and drums that should somehow come out of them.
The last one - “Grid Brass” somehow continues naturally, although it was made before those two, and is a more intense attempt.
These are very raw attempts from the lab stage. Can you imagine how these things start to collide with each other and form something new? I can’t yet.
Lastly, here is an antique performance worth hearing of the quartet. I think it’s beautiful.