Ionic Motion in Alkali Borate Glass – mixed ensemble

Ionic Motion in Alkali Borate Glass (2/10/18) for oboe, English horn, clarinet and marimba – 6’20”.  The single largest use of boron compounds in the world is the production of certain types of boron-treated glass fiber for insulating and structural fiberglass.  This piece attempts to portray the interior of an alkali borate glass sample using sounds.  The glass structure itself is vibrating and is represented by variations in the background created on the marimba.  One can imagine the ionic motion more as jumps than fluent movements.  Thus, the wind parts often move by large leaps.  Musically, the meeting of positive ions becomes the meeting of musical instruments on the same pitch, which causes an abrupt breakdown of all existing patterns before the marimba resumes its variations.  Negative charged oxygen atoms are favored by the positive atoms, shown in the piece by converging musical lines from the winds that end without forming a unison, followed by repeated dissonant chords.

Difficult

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To hear an excerpt click here.