Reverberant House

 

Reverberant House is a high-energy improvised and modular work uniting EDM influences and contemporary music with theatrical elements inspired by the desire to explore one of the oldest corporeal rhythms; breathe. The composition explores resonance on multiple levels, the acoustic resonance in the hall, local resonance created by the saxophone through percussive key noise and slap-tongue articulation, and resonance created by using saxophone mouthpieces on simple tubing to explore inharmonic frequencies and noise sounds, often emulating electroacoustic effects.

The title refers to the Duo’s approach using the saxophones as resonating bodies to create large and complex overblown textures with multiple layers of sound, shifting harmonies, and internal rhythmic patterns. Reverberance is created through idiomatic saxophone techniques, using circular breathing, repeated fingering sequences, percussive key noise, and singing while playing at the same time. House refers to the influence of EDM in the repetitive, hypnotic nature of the sonic material. It alludes to the trance-like state adopted by the performers in order to perform extensive passages of physically and mentally demanding harmonic and rhythmic material. The Duo employs circular breathing, enabling long phrase buildups (à la EDM) transcending physical limitations as wind performers and breaking the natural phrase cycle imposed by inhalation.

Duo d’Entre-Deux is a cross-border ensemble, composed of Tommy Davis (Montreal) and Nick Zoulek (Chicago). In Reverberant House, the Duo performs on multiple saxophones and various lengths of tubing, providing a large range of potential sound combinations. By changing saxophones, the Duo accesses a diverse palette of harmonies, textures, rhythmic patterns, and overtones in our own playing and in combination with the other performer. Saxophone mouthpieces attached to plastic tubing allow the Duo to explore delicate air and rich inharmonic sounds as well as immense noise-based textures. These tubes are flexible and very directional, allowing for directionality in reverberant spaces while pointing (and even swinging) the tube, altering the audience’s perception of the sounds. These gestures create a theatrical, spatial performance, adding to the visual and sonic intensity of the composition. 

Reverberant House premiered in 2019 as part of Montreal’s Codes d’accès concert series. The composition is the result of a shared vocabulary developed by the Duo over the past 10 years, always pushing to the performers’ physical limits and exploring auditory space. Notable collaborations include multiple performances with Wild Space Dance Company and choreographer Debora Loewen, who specialize in site-specific experimental works. These collaborations resulted in multiple full-length, site-specific performances with programmed and improvised music exploring reverberant spaces, unique performance venues, lighting and video, and onstage interaction with the dancers. Duo d’Entre-Deux continues to embrace the site-specific and physical/gestural aspects of performance by occupying and using the performance space.