John Van der Slice

Specters

click here to hear an excerpt from Specters .

The title, Specters, reflects two aspects of this work. First, it uses a "spectrum" of thirteen pitches, descendingh from small intervals to large, which provides the genetic material for harmonic and melodic organization. (This serves as a surrogate overtone series and betrays my admiration for the natural sonic beauty of French "Spectral" music.) Secondly, the work is a kind of abstract ballet of sound involving a mysterious play of "ghostly" timbres and textures, occasionally disturbed by sudden, more violent, apparitions.