The 4 Idols of Francis M. Bacon (2006)
The job was to write for baroque ensemble, for a concert at
a conservatory new music festival. Natural, then, was the
mixture of two times (perceived as separate – as
opposed to new works for violin, which strangely
aren’t always perceived that way). The connection
between these two times is the subject of the piece.
More specifically, I wanted to explore the relation of the
two times as intact positions: that is, the past, present,
and future (us, in part) of the baroque; and the past
(them), present, and future of now. Our perception of
"them" is of course from History, and theirs of us a
certain progressive optimism about the future of
rationality, among other concerns.
To this aim I assembled a mixed bag of ingredients: the
baroque ensemble (Viol da gamba, baroque Violoncello,
Natural Horn, 3 Recorders), excerpts from a text by Francis
Bacon (Novum
Organum),
a Josquin recording overlaid
against itself in canonic fashion, and a live mic
outside the concert hall; all this is set inside the
concert hall situation, and specifically
a
concert,
in the ever-changing now.
(The "M" is of course added to Bacon's name.)
Listen
to a recording:
05 4
Idols of Francis M. Bacon
Get
the score:
The 4
Idols of Francis M (score)