Harmonic Constellations was commissioned and composed for
violinist/electronics specialist Mari Kimura and is scored for violin with 13
pre-recorded violin tracks and sine tones. The complete work is comprised of nine
constellations of complex just intonation harmonies that gradually shift and evolve
over time. The frequency relationships between each tone are perfectly tuned in
whole number proportions. In turn these same proportions determine the durations and
envelopes (attack, sustain, and decay) of each tone, as well as structural elements
of the work. I am calling the concept “Integrated Proportionality.” Harmonic
Constellations was composed entirely using math and text based computer programming.
The data was then organized into spreadsheets to create a more traditional score
with the just intonation ratios and exact frequency specified in Hertz above each
note. All of the tones were divided between the violins and sine tones to create a
complex and integrated timbre. The work is inspired by the harmonic language of La
Monte Young’s The Well-Tuned Piano, and all of the frequencies, durations and
envelopes are generated from multiples of the prime numbers two, three and seven.
Today’s abridged version is about 11 min.
