Rebecca Saunders — Scar

First thoughts and sounds:

a dream instrumentation, initially divided into three groups - wind/brass (bcl, Hn, tpt, tbn), strings (1,1,1,1) and percussion/resonance (2 perc., 2 pnos, accordion, e-guit.).

Particularly inspiring and fascinating is the sonic potential of the third group, exploring the binary right/left play of timbral fragments and bodies of sound thrown back and forwards between the two pianos, two percussion and accordion and e-guitar.

This primary stage explores extreme contrasts of all parameters, setting up distinct timbral palettes for each group.

It is impossible to name or say at this stage, but central primary thoughts follow two threads:

1.
Two. Nor. Neither.
Neither one, no one of the two, none, not any one, no thing.
And not. Not yet.
Absence of, absence of relation.
Irrelation - without reference, without regard to.
In the abstract; a se.
Neither here nor there.
Neither nor, signifying nothing.
Without, nowhere, nowther.
In silence, vacuous. Void.
Oasis, Pariah. Non est inventus.
Except unless save barring beside without.
Absent, equal, true.
And naught beside. Unified.

2.
Rupture.
Of sound and fury.
"the unshakeable infinity of remorse
delving deeper in it´s bite.
having to hear having to say
the faintest murmur so many lies
so many times lyingly denied.
the screaming silence
No´s knife in yes´s wound one day.
where there are no days.
no place the impossible voice
the unmakable
the gleam of light
the silent empty void
dark as now..." (from 13th Text for Nothing, S. Beckett)
—Rebecca Saunders, 2018