Detuning

Detuning (2022)
for solo violin (4′30″)

For Detuning, my idea was to start with the sound of open strings i.e., the sound of the four unfingered strings of the violin, G, D, A, and E, which one hears when a violinist is tuning up. The name of the piece is a play on this idea, as fingered notes are incorporated soon thereafter thus “corrupting” this tuning-up gesture. From there, I incorporated the sound of natural harmonics, open strings lightly fingered so that a node is forced, resulting in a very high, thin pitch.

Score