Signification ii

This piece is inspired by something called ‘signifying’, which is a rhetorical device used in African-American music.

Signifyin(g) is essentially three things:

1. taking an existing word (or musical idea) and responding to/repurposing it 
2. the tension that exists between that new idea and the original one
3. a way of subverting power structures through language

This piece explores the potential for the signifying act to re-frame improvisation and interaction within a classical framework. It ‘signifies’ on the musical ideas from Bartok, Stravinsky and Webern and repurposing and recontextualising them as tools for musical interaction. The ideas become timbrally, rhythmically distinct and form a new sonic whole that exists in tension with the original(s). Approximate length is 5 minutes.