Lois V Vierk

for cello, electric guitar, percussion, and synthesizer

ca. 12'15"

The title of this piece refers to the way in which astronomers and physicists measure movement and distances of distant celestial bodies. Briefly, characteristic lines and patterns made by different elements found in the stars, etc., as observed through a spectrometer, are shifted in one direction or the other, towards the red or towards the blue end of the spectrum, depending on whether the body is moving away from us or towards us. This shift is called the "red shift".

When I wrote this work, I had the feeling of sornething of great mass and motion, far away, accelerating toward us like a comet. It first seemed to move slowly, then gradually began accelerating toward us, faster and faster, until finally at great speed I felt it sweeping down upon us, through us, and back out into the heavens.

Red Shift was commissioned by the Experimental Intermedia Foundation with support from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust.

Recording is by:

Ted Mook, cello

David Seidel, electric guitar

Jim Pugliese, percussion

Lois V Vierk, synthesizer

from CD:

Tzadik 7056 "Lois V Vierk: River Beneath the River"

Click here to view the CD on Tzadik.

Click here to view the score with analysis, and listen to the recording.

Click here to download the sounds and instructions for the synthesized sounds.