The Clouded Memories of G.G.M.

Duration 
Approx. 9 minutes

The Clouded Memories of G.G.M. was commissioned by Bl!ndman [Drums] for percussionist Ward de Ketelaere. It grew out of an earlier piece for the ensemble, S.H.R., and became an opportunity to revisit an idea that I felt still had more to offer.

The piece is performed on an amplified bass guitar, but it was written specifically for a percussionist. I wanted to explore how tapping directly on the strings could reveal the instrument’s natural harmonics, creating a sound world that sits somewhere between percussion and bass guitar.

The music begins with a single harmonic node and gradually expands across the instrument, opening up new strings, harmonics and resonances as it unfolds. Continuous streams of repeated notes are interrupted by small rhythmic disruptions, creating a mechanical surface that slowly gives way to something more fluid and resonant.

Amplification brings out the delicate overtones, resonances and transient sounds of the instrument, allowing details that would normally remain hidden to become part of the musical material.

Instrumentation
Amplified bass guitar (performed by percussionist)