FRAGILE GLIM by Stanford Cheung

Commissioned by the 43rd Rhubarb Festival in Canada

World premiere on February 4th, 2022 at the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Video found here: https://youtu.be/qf-Up-gvsis

FRAGILE GLIM, is a sound-based composition divided into three parts: one single introductory movement followed by two improvisatory expansions. Drawing on the concept of wabi-sabi, the work sources its materials from a degenerative Yamaha upright piano tampered by nature to examine impermanence and imperfection as tangible forms of musical expression. By undergoing many months of decay, the piano becomes an instrument divorced from human intervention, which allows for temporal and restorative interplays in sound. Oftentimes, when a piano is not tuned to equal temperament, one often describes this phenomenon as “falling out of tune.” However, one does not realize that nature is in fact reclaiming the instrument back to its original and unadorned state. The degenerative piano pushes against the preconceived notions that an instrument must be governed by anthropocentric ideals to be deemed “beautiful.”

Drawing on my creative practice as a concert pianist, intermedia poet, and sound artist, FRAGILE GLIM examines the unadorned, organic, preplanned and spontaneous modes in live musical performance. Free improvisation on found objects (stones, wood chips, sand, tuning forks), electronics (synthesizers, E-bows), and spoken word are explored
within the composition.

Neo-speculative artist working along the intersections of classical piano, improvisation, sound, composition, and poetry

stanfordcheung.com

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