Entropic Twilights
Paul Dolden
Programme notes
To Mare
Entropic Twilights is inspired by the concept of twilight, a time between states. I use it as a metaphor for our own time, situated between millennia. The constantly changing density, tempos and moods of the first part, Twilight’s Nomadic Desire, suggest a state of impatience or anticipation. Twilight’s Sleep, a medical term used to describe the morphine-induced semi-consciousness experienced by birthing mothers, evokes a slow and dreamlike state of transformation. Opening on a metric modulation to a fast tempo, the final section, Twilight’s Ritual Incantations, surges forward towards the new. The closing ritard brings the piece back to a calm, reflective state.
Although there was great anxiety about the passing of the millennnium, I chose to compose a work which is joyful and optimistic. It is a response the the philosophical perception that the postmodern world is drained of substance, meaning, value and difference. Resembling a state of entropy, everything is flatttened in the postmodern world. (Imagine the typical music listener’s library
Entropic Twilights jumbles together commonplace musical sounds (recorded individually in my studio) such as distorted guitars
Entropic Twilights was realized in 1997-98 and produced at the composer’s studio in 1998-99 (Twilight’s Ritual Incantations) and 1999-2000 (Twilight’s Nomadic Desire
Premiere
- April 30, 2005, Borderline 2005
: Konsert 15, Palladium, Malmö (Sweden)
- Composer(s): Paul Dolden
- Year of composition: 1997-2002, 03-04
- Instrumentation: stereo fixed medium
- Commission: ACREQ, NAISA, Réseaux des arts médiatiques, with support from the CCA
Movements
Twilight’s Nomadic Desire
Twilight’s Nomadic Desire was commissioned by ACREQ with support from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).
Premiere
- September 15, 2000, Elektra 2000
: Concert, Usine C, Montréal (Québec)
- Year of composition: 1999-2000
- Movement of: Entropic Twilights
- Duration: 12:16
- Commission: ACREQ, with support from the CCA
- ISRC: CAD500518840, CAD500518850
Twilight’s Sleep
Twilight’s Sleep was commissioned by New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA) with support from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).
Premiere
- September 2, 2001, Sound Travels 2001
: Outdoor Multichannel Concert 4, West Lawn — Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto (Ontario, Canada)
- Year of composition: 1999-2000
- Movement of: Entropic Twilights
- Duration: 8:11
- Commission: NAISA, with support from the CCA
- ISRC: CAD500518860
Twilight’s Ritual Incantations
Twilight’s Ritual Incantations was commissioned by Réseaux des arts médiatiques with support from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).
Premiere
- February 19, 1999, Rien à voir (5)
: carte blanche, La Chapelle — scènes contemporaines, Montréal (Québec)
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Movement of: Entropic Twilights
- Duration: 18:50
- Commission: Réseaux des arts médiatiques, with support from the CCA
- ISRC: CAD500518870
