Ciclo Continuo (2021) US premiere
On February 11, 2024, Isotope Duo, Phil Pierick (sax) and Kyle Flens (perc), will give a US premiere of Repečkaitė’s Ciclo Continuo (2021) for saxophone and percussion at Constellation venue in Chicago.
Originally written for the Duo Dubois European tour More with less in 2021, Ciclo Continuo was later part of Astrus Duo European tour in 2023.
Frequency Series Presents: Isotope Duo
This program is a wish list of dynamic compositions for saxophone and percussion. Phil and Kyle sat down and made a list of music for percussion and saxophone that they had always wanted to play, but had never had a chance. They whittled the long list down to four existing works. Chicago composer David Clay Mettens got in on the fun, writing a piece he had always wanted to compose. And thus, Isotope Duo and David Clay Mettens’ At the edge of the mind were born. We’re excited to share this inaugural show with you!
Isotope Duo: Phil Pierick (sax) and Kyle Flens (perc)
Constellation Chicago
3111 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Concert program
Breathe (2016) Evan Williams (b.1988)
Ciclo Continuo (2021) Justina Repečkaitė (b.1989)
Study (1998) Simon Steen-Andersen (b.1976)
At the edge of the mind (2024) David Clay Mettens (b.1990)
Mouthpiece XXIV (2015) Erin Gee (b.1974)
Program Note of Ciclo Continuo
Composition Ciclo Continuo seeks to achieve a hybrid organic timbre while associating atypical instruments to complement each other. A snare drum is used as a resonating body for the objects. The snare drum’s wire also serves as a saturation effect changing the timbre of metallic instruments and also reacting to the saxophone’s sound. Dyads and multiphonics are predominant in the saxophone part while pitched, but very fragile and unstable sounds are used in the percussion section. Harmony is enriched with beatings creating synergy between musicians, unfolding timeless processes. The duo plays the cycle that is on loop, an endless repetition devoid of narration, a basso continuo of an unsung aria.
