Viscid

The word “viscid” refers to the tight, squeezed feeling of hearing two pitches very close to each other played at the same time. Even two pitches side-by-side on the piano (a half-step, D and D# for instance) have a certain tension when played together. This piece explores and relishes in this tension, creating moments of even stronger compression via microtones; these intervals closer than a half-step create a sticky texture one might describe as viscous, or viscid. The flute player interacts with this tension, taking part in it at the beginning and end, but staying above it for most of the piece. The accompanying material is all derived from recordings of the flute.