Among the Tarnished Stars

Notes

Among the Tarnished Stars (1998) was composed for a short-lived but marvelous ensemble in Toronto called The Burdocks, commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council. The work traverses a variety of terrains, usually through the variation, or re-translation, or reconsideration of simple things, harmonies, melodies, intervals. I was especially interested in seeing what I could do with the various sound colours of these instruments, sometimes looking for blend, sometimes for independent pure lines. I am fascinated with small changes, subtle gradations and shadings. I like how these things contribute to something we might almost call ‘mood’.