Butterfly Curve

 

For chamber ensemble
2018

 

Duration
16 min.

 

Instrumentation
fl (+picc, bfl), cl (+bcl), perc, pno, vn, va, vc

 

Commissioned by
International Music Council and Swedish Radio

 

Premiered by
Norrbotten NEO
Conducted by Aaron Holloway-Nahum
Feb 4 2019
Studio Acusticum, Piteå, Sweden

The title Butterfly Curve fascinated me because it combines something very mathematical and rational (curve) with something sensual and poetic (butterfly). The idea of ​​combining these two opposites; something vulnerable, light, warm, poetic, sensual and free with something hard, cold, mathematical, rational and strict, is something I wanted to explore in the piece.

Butterflies have inspired countless composers over time. I wanted to refer to this music-historical context but at the same time approach the theme from my personal perspective. Therefore in the work I use reference material from pieces with butterfly themes written by François Couperin, Robert Schumann, Hugo Alfvén, Witold Lutoslawski and Kaija Saariaho.

The references are made at different levels, from very remote connections to more closely related, filtered through my own aesthetics and ways of expression.

Ultimately, with the music I wanted to depict an imagined story about a butterfly’s ”life curve”. The piece illustrates the absurd and unexpected things that happen during a butterfly’s journey in the world with moments of euphoria, joy and ease, loneliness, comfort and emptiness, ups and downs, new beginnings and endings.

Past Performances

Feb 5 2019
Norbotten NEO
Conducted by Aaron Holloway-Nahum
Kulturens hus, Luleå, Sweden

Feb 4 2019
Norbotten NEO
Conducted by Aaron Holloway-Nahum
Studio Acusticum, Piteå, Sweden

Sheet Music

Schott Music
Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG
Weihergarten 5
55116 Mainz
info@schott-music.com
+49 6131 246-0

Listen

Premiere of Butterfly Curve, performed by Norbotten NEO, conducted by Aaron Holloway-Nahum: