Of Breath

Of Breath | duo for B flat clarinet with electronic sounds and live processing - 2006

Gretchen Dunsmore - B flat clarinet

Norm Skipp - live electronics

Of Breath is a duo for B flat clarinet with electronic sounds and live processing. It is an experimental work exploring aspects of electronic and instrument performance with particular emphasis on the combination of acoustic and electronic sound worlds to create a sound world of their own. The inherent acoustic characteristics of different clarinet colours are spotlighted, particularly the timbre and nature of notes within the throat area. The clarinet score although notated is free in regards to time and interaction with the pre-composed electronic sounds to allow room for musical conversation in the performing of the piece. The clarinet is recorded and processed in real time and combined with the pre-composed electronic sounds. All sounds are derived from the sound of the B flat clarinet. Gretchen Dunsmore commissioned ‘Of Breath’ with funds made available by Creative New Zealand.

(premiere by Gretchen Dunsmore and Norman Skipp at The University of Sheffield - February 2006)

The recording above is a studio demo of a performance with 175 East at All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand on the 13th of October 2006. The following is the Radio New Zealand Concert recording of the same performance.

Sarah Masters - B flat clarinet
Norm Skipp - live electronics

Performance as part of Fuse at Chorlton Arts Festival 2013
This performance is the first to involve another collaborator in Sarah Masters.

Live performance at St. Werburgh's Church, Chorlton - May 2013