mutations (2014) for guitar trio

Mutations is an homage to two very important composers who changed how I thought about harmony. The first is Alexander Scriabin and his "Mystic Chord." The second homage is to Harry Partch, American composer, microtonalist and instrument builder. Two of the instruments in Partch's collection of instruments are two microtonal slide guitars. The piece is built off of Scriabin's Mystic Chord.

The chord begins to mutate by transposition, expanding the chord to include other pitches, and rhythmic displacement. By the conclusion of the piece, each guitar has 'mutated' into a slide guitar and further distorts Scriabin's chord, an homage to Partch's adapted guitars.

Mutations was commissioned by soundSCAPE 2014 and is dedicated to the Sudbury Guitar Trio.

Mutations was premiered July 3rd, 2014 at the Vonderau Museum in Fulda, Germany.

you can purchase the score here