Wayne Siegel

A selection of the most radical impressive works composed by Wayne Siegel when he was mid-twenties. Moved to Denmark, between 1979 and 1980, he began to investigate possibilities of a very personal language, contributing to mould the heterogeneous kaleidoscope of Post-Minimalism results. The early works are constructed around a relentless musical process that consists of delaying and repeating every element in a certain measure, without intentional alteration. Siegel called this process canon technique, letting it to become over time his nutritious obsession.

This at length awaited CD version includes contents from the original 1983's LP Autumn Resonance / Domino Figures released by danish label Paula. Inedited Voices Recurrent and Music for 21 Clarinets are available along with linear notes written by the author, echoing the current value of his experimental approach to the sound practice.

Autumn Resonance is a fast canon in which musical figures move quickly around the concert hall: measuring distances, Siegel emphasizes the interrelation of the individual piano, the acoustic of the concert hall and his mood as parts of an organic work. Domino Figures for 10-100 guitars embodies as sound work the shape of a semicircle. Widely renowned in its large number of declinations, here is presented in a 42 guitars version, dedicated to the Danish guitarist Erling Møldrup and originally released by Paula label: the performers are sit in a semicircle in a kind of slow chain reaction where a choral texture is produced, evolving and slowly changing. Voices Recurrent is performed by the solo cellist Morten Zeuthen, member of the legendary Contra Quartet and in Music for 21 Clarinets, considered as sister work of Domino Figures, Hans Christian Bræin, plays all 21 parts.

Massive sound, spatial effects and strong visual impact meanwhile of aural: Wayne Siegel’s early works can definitley be perceived as art installations, part of a transformation in music as drastic as open.