GELI LI
COMPOSER
DUO - for two string instruments (2022)
Written for andPlay ensemble.
Additional performance was given by the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble at the Midwest Graduate Music Consortium Conference in April 2023.
DUO, composed for violin and viola, was performed by andPlay in 2022 and premiered by the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble at the Midwest Graduate Music Consortium Conference in 2023. In this exploration of timbral composition, my goal is to organically synthesize sonic cells that are very similar yet possess subtle internal nuances, blending them into a union where these delicate timbral subtleties merge into an almost indistinguishable auditory level. In DUO, this piece explores nuanced soundscapes that originate from a singular tone, extending musical depth through the use of multifaceted musical parameters. These include sound texture, spatial awareness, tension, temporal flow, sound quality, and musical motion, all built upon concise pitch content—the F#. As the sound progresses, the violin and viola emerge as intertwined counterparts—almost akin to twins. Their sonorities merge, mingle, clash, and complement each other, weaving a vast spectrum of sound beyond the conventional paradigm of pitch.