For this album I have assembled a collection of contrasting works from the archives. Some have previously been released, others not. Three pieces: Sculptor, Touche pas, and Bubble chamber are based on the microsound techniques of granular synthesis and micro-montage. By contrast, Modulude, Clang-tint, and Still life were conceived before my microsound period.
For any given piece, my compositional practice usually takes years. For example, Modulude was initially conceived in 1998 and finished 23 years later. What I call my microsound period began in 1998 and culminated in the book Microsound (The MIT Press) and the album POINT LINE CLOUD (2004), re-issued by the Presto?! label (Milan) in 2019. Sculptor appeared on that album. Clang-tint traces back to 1991. It was finally released in 2021 by the SLOWSCAN label (’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands) in a limited edition LP. Prior to this, the first movement of Clang-tint, Purity, appeared on the album CCMIX Paris (2001 Mode Records, New York). The origins of Still life date back even further, to the 1980s. Touche pas appeared on the DVD FLICKER TONE PULSE (2019 Wergo Schallplatten, Mainz). Bubble chamber is a new release.
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Sculptor (2001)
Premiered 14 September 2001, Olhares de Autono Festival, Portuguese Catholic University, Porto.
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Touche pas (2009) In two parts
Dedicated to Morton Subotnick, my teacher at CalArts
Premiered 20 February 2009 in Santa Barbara in a CREATE concert also featuring guests John Chowning, Max Mathews, and Jean-Claude Risset.
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Still life (2016) In four parts
Curtis Roads and Stephan Kaske
Premiered 7 November 2016 by the Christoph-und-Stephan-Kaske-Stiftung at Künstlerhaus, Munich.
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Bubble Chamber (2021 mix)
Commission from the Mozarteum, Salzburg. Premiered there on 7 December 2018. This version is an updated 2021 mix.
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Clang-tint (1990-1994, revised 2004)
This performance features three sections – Purity, Organic, and Filth.
The piece premiered at the Kunitachi school in Tokyo in April 1994. The Paris premiere took place in December of that year at the Messiaen Auditorium of Radio France using the Acousmonium sound projection system of the Groupe de Recherches Musicales.
For a detailed description of the composition process see the website:
www.curtisroads.net/articles
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Modulude (2021)
Dedicated to John Chowning, pioneer of FM synthesis
Premiered April 2016 in Santa Barbara. This version is an updated 2021 mix.
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Poetical and thoughtful, this compilation showcases a composer at ease with time – stretching it, folding it, zooming in and out. It also makes you reflect: what lies beneath everyday sound if you peel back notebynote? Roads reminds us that even the shortest sonic particle can contain epics.– Chain D.L.K.
