Butterfly Curve
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: