drowningXnumbers
Dorothy Hindman
About this work:
“drowningXnumbers” (drowning by numbers) was written during a residency at Atlantic Center for the Arts in December, 1994, for cellist Craig Hultgren, who asked for a piece for amplified cello. The piece exploits the effects made possible by amplification, and also incorporates virtuosic effects which were inspired by Craig himself. It is a continuous, fifteen-minute work divided into three main sections, each with a faster tempo but longer note durations than the preceding. The first section is unforgivingly aggressive, the second is more percussive but less frantic, and the third is increasingly quiet, desolate, and still. The work is the composer’s response to the large amount of aggressive music being composed by her colleagues. It reflects some of her own beliefs about beauty, emotion, intention, and profundity in music. While the title suggests an obvious metaphor for the work, it is a reference to a film by Peter Greenaway, and even more a reference and grateful acknowledgment to composer Louis Andriessen.
Year composed: 1994
Duration: 00:15:00
Ensemble type: Solo instrument, non-keyboard:Cello
Instrumentation: 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: amplified