for soprano saxophone and interactive sounds, 2002, duration: 11 minutes.7
My electronic works have generally been composed in the traditional "instrument and tape" format which, given the timing inflexibility of the tape, compromises the player. Dulcet Mimicry is one of a series of pieces in which I have begun to compose for " acoustic instrument and computer music." The computer will listen to the notes the performer plays or how loud the note was played and then respond according to my instructions. This creates a situation in which the performer has control over the events of the piece by his/her musical gestures.
Dulcet Mimicry is an interactive work for soprano saxophone and interactive sounds. In this case the interactive sounds are sounds of the soprano saxophone after they have been processed digitally. Among the specific DSP modules are a quad delay unit, which allows four simultaneous but independently controllable echoes, and a quad flanger, four simultaneous and independent echoes with real-time control of modulation frequency and depth.
Although most parameters of the piece are precisely controlled and notated, there is no metric pulse. Instead there is considerable freedom for the performer to “time” events according to expressive and emotional involvement of the performance. The work is in three sections, the middle section being a free improvisation over a set of extended, almost clustered harmonies.
Gunnar Mossblad, soprano sax
1 Published by Theodore Presser Co., Inc.
2 Published by Carl Fischer, Inc. = available from Theodore Presser Co., Inc.
3 Recorded by CRI. - available from New World CRI : Catalog No. NWCRL484
4 Recorded by SEAMUS Recordings
5 Available from the Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music
6 Recorded by Black Canyon Recordings
7 Recorded by Albany Records