Bang on a Can

I have been listening to the All-Stars for fifteen years now, turned on by their crisp ensemble, virtuosity and great energy, so it has been a delight to work with them on Vortex. The piece builds on sounds and licks which embody each player to me, starting with slow strokes on the uboingee (a guitar-shaped frame with both strings and stretched springs), and gongs. Lines emerge and accumulate, converging, accelerating, pulled into a dark core on a single pitch a vortex, something I felt while writing the piece this spring, was happening to America. Finally there is release, back into pure sound. Vortex is dedicated to the All-Stars, with my thanks for all these years of vibrant performances.

Vortex was commissioned for the Bang on a Can All-Stars with the generous contributions from the members of the Bang on a Can People's Commissioning Fund.