Winter Songs Version II: Stones

Winter songs is comprised of an instrumental Septet of very low instruments. The piece has three versions each version can be played independentely: Winter songs version I: Pending light; Winter songs version II: Stones; Winter songs version III: Roots. In each of these versions the instrumental septet remain identical, with only minor temporal modifications.

In Winter songs I: Pending light, there is a recorded layer (of organic noises, stones, bowed ropes, rice or beans rain on papers etc), which is at first infused with the instrumental layer and then becomes an contrasting independent piece. The electronics for this part were done at IRCAM, with Eric Daubresse.

Winter songs II: Stones, is written for the septet and three amplified percussionists, no electronics outside the amplification. The percussion create a very low and slow counterpoint-piece to the instrumental septet, a counterpoint which does not syncronize completely with the septet.

Winter songs III: Roots, combines winter songs I and II with minor modification, to be a third piece.
The whole cycle reflects on the aspect of winter which has to do with one being pulled into the cave of one's interior, into the passivity of long sleep. At the same time, underneath, in the earth, the roots of vitality slowly solidify and start to blindly search for a way between the stones. The composing of this piece took place mostely in the Fall and Winter 03/04, in a period following the passing of a close friend, Mark Osborn, a composer, 33 years old.

The composer would like to express her deep gratitude to Eric Daubresse, who colloborated with her in this piece, for his thought, creativity, support, and especialy for the hospital sound he created in the end of the second movement. Winter songs, version I: Pending light is dedicated to Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf. Chaya Czernowin