- Donnacha Dennehy
Bulb (2006)
- G Schirmer Inc (World)
Programme Note
Composer note:
Bulb was commissioned by the Fidelio Trio with funds provided by the Arts Council of Ireland. It takes as its basis the overtone series built on a very low G, and it grows outwards from a small band of these overtones by means of pulsing glissandi (in the violin and cello). Well in fact these pulsing glissandi are for the most part made of two notes (one moving, the other providing a reference drone by its repetitions). By the end, the violin and piano have swapped registral places. It’s an artificial vandalism of a natural phenomenon (the overtone series), like the way electric lighting is of the visual spectrum, or the paintings of Bridget Riley are of various natural perceptions.
— Donnacha Dennehy
Bulb was commissioned by the Fidelio Trio with funds provided by the Arts Council of Ireland. It takes as its basis the overtone series built on a very low G, and it grows outwards from a small band of these overtones by means of pulsing glissandi (in the violin and cello). Well in fact these pulsing glissandi are for the most part made of two notes (one moving, the other providing a reference drone by its repetitions). By the end, the violin and piano have swapped registral places. It’s an artificial vandalism of a natural phenomenon (the overtone series), like the way electric lighting is of the visual spectrum, or the paintings of Bridget Riley are of various natural perceptions.
— Donnacha Dennehy
Media
Performed by pianist Vicky Chow, cellist Ashley Bathgate and violinist Todd Reynolds.
Scores
Reviews
The pianist Eric Huebner was arresting…pulsing away with the machine-like rhythms of “Bulb,” a piano trio by Donnacha Dennehy.
31st January 2019
In Bulb minimalist rhythmic patterns pull wavelike movements, which are repeated over and over. But it is not monotonous. The repetitions come alive as only single notes sound, which then unfold in incredibly complex ways, brilliant in its various overtones.
16th August 2016
Discography
Bulb
- LabelNMC Records
- Catalogue NumberNMC D147
- EnsembleFidelio Trio
- Released4th February 2008