This work is actually the follow-up for a piece done quite some time ago: "Harmundum". In that work, I experimented with slowing a fairly typical chord sequence that, normally, might take 20 seconds to play through in its usual context. In "Harmundum", however, that same chord progression takes around 57 minutes to get through. After working on it, I noticed quite a bit of interesting harmonic 'blurring' as chords slowly changed, and made a note to investigate that further.
Then in 2007, I created a set of works which extended beyond an hour's time that focused on slow transfomations of single tonally-centered chords. These were interesting...but after consideration, they were sort of static as individual works went. I shelved them, then a couple of years ago pulled them out again and wondered what would happen if all four were overdubbed together. So, I finally got around to that...and with some extra digital processing, Euphony I is the result.
It's a much more interesting piece than its four antecedents. For one thing, I immediately noticed that it returns back to the 'blurring harmony' principle of "Harmundum", but in a wholly different manner, as the internal harmony seems to be in constant, slow flux. Dissonances occur...but seem to simultaneously resolve as they happen. It's also hard to pin down modally, as a whole. One would expect this to result in a total inharmonic mess, but strangely, the work seems to be in a constant state of generative chordal resolution and while there are aspects that should be 'non-tonal', the whole work is actually VERY tonal. Naturally, I've made a note to myself to investigate this further, as before...but this time, I don't intend to take a couple of decades to get around to that next chapter in this.
As it doesn't seem to completely follow normal harmonic rules throughout, I opted for the title word "Euphony" to describe the activity, the word (taken from poetry) meaning a collection of sounds which are pleasing when sounded together. And as for the "I" part, yes, there will be more works along these lines in the future.
credits
released February 3, 2018
Original separate stereo tracks created in the Summer of 2007. Final composition, engineering, reprocessing and production January of 2018 by DAC Crowell.
Composer/performer in electronic and electroacoustic media, concentrating on avant-garde ambient works. Studied with John
Anthony Lennon, Salvatore Martirano and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Also known to do vaporwave and related sorts of sonic tampering. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, he currently resides and creates in Champaign, Illinois....more
Amazingly calm...goes absolutely nowhere for an hour or so, but at the same time, it sends you somewhere. I use this as prescribed; in fact, I think my copy is currently by the stereo in my bedroom. DAC Crowell
The man, the myth, the MAX wrangler extraordinare! Carl's works never fail to astound with his skills at unfolding entire new sonic worlds from bits and pieces of others. DAC Crowell
Mind-shattering intensity...one of the few records I own that may be too intimidating for me to experience! Sunn o))) are true dark masters of raw sonic power, and "Black One" is their event-horizon! DAC Crowell