solo instrument(s)+audio playback

Brown Velvet is a work for solo bassoon and live electronics. The work is both decrease and increase. There is a pedal (see below), that begins on the lowest pitch of the bassoon, Bb. Only overtones of that note are initially allowed in the bassoon part. The pedal then progressively “migrates” down to Bb-F-Bb-D-Bb, over two octaves, lower than any acoustic sound. At each new pedal, all overtones above it are allowed in the bassoon. So as a result, the descent (decrease) of the pedal allows ever greater harmonic richness (increase) within the bassoonist’s part. The pedal point is electronic. The version created by the composer is a Max/MSP patch, provided along with this score. (Instructions for the electronic player are included in the patch). But if one wishes to make another realization, it should be possible from the score and tunings provided within. It is important however that the pedal be real-time, i.e. not a pre-recorded part. The essence of the piece is a dialogue between the bassoonist and the “pedaler”, who will probably be performing from laptop.

Dedicated to and premiered by pianist Philip Mead, at the 1990 International Computer Music Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Excerpt, Brian Bevelander, piano; rec. 1999

This work takes its name from the Voyager 1 spacecraft launched by NASA in 1977. As it flew past Saturn, Voyager used that planet's gravitational field to propel itself toward deep space, becoming the first human-made object to leave our solar system. Voyager's journey is immense. Traveling about 1,000,000 miles a day, it will take 20,000 years to leave the gravitational field of the Sun. Voyager will then enter deep space and travel for billions of years. At some point during this journey, the Sun will be no more than a charred cinder and human beings may no longer exist. But Voyager will be traveling on.

mccandlessvoyagerexcerpt.mp3