Filters (2009) · 7.5 min (in two movements)
for alto saxophone and 4-Speaker Audio
alto saxophone, fixed media (Mac laptop running Max/MSP)
Written for Demetrius Spaneas
Program Note
Filters was originally composed as a duo in three movements for Bruce Ronkin performing on an EWI (electronic wind synthesizer), and Kenneth Radnofsky, alto saxophone. It was premiered at the University of Québec in Montreal as part of the 12th World Saxophone Congress in July 2000. For the electroacoustic version presented here, movements 2 and 3 of the original work were adapted for alto saxophone (generated from the original wind synthesizer part) and 4-speaker audio, consisting of four layered recordings of the original alto saxophone part (in order to take advantage of the natural chorus effect that such layered recordings generate). The pre-recorded tracks were all performed by Demetrius Spaneas, and recorded by Brian Dixon at Northeastern University’s Shillman Recording Studio in Boston. When performed live, the prerecorded tracks are diffused in a 4-speaker audio environment using Max/MSP, which also generates a click track for the soloist in order to keep in sync with the pre-recorded audio. The soloist is processed and slightly amplified in order to create some timbral differentiation from the pre-recorded audio, while simultaneously attempting to immerse the live solo within the quadraphonic space.
Filters for alto saxophone solo and 4-speaker audio was premiered by Demetrius Spaneas with several performances in China between October 27 and November 5, 2009, including at La Plantation (Beijing), the Musicacoustica Festival at the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing), and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Recordings
Filters (electroacoustic music version) was recorded by Demetrius Spaneas, alto saxophone, at Northeastern University’s Shillman Recording Studio, Boston, MA, some time in 2010 by Brian Dixon. It was officially released by Albany Records (TROY1710) on Anthony Paul De Ritis: Electroacoustic Music – In Memoriam: David Wessel on April 1, 2018.