Meltwater (2019)

Duochord and Loops

duochord / Daniel Newman-Lessler. Untwelve 2019 Xenharmonic Summer Convergence, West Virginia.

Meltwater was composed for the Untwelve Xenharmonic Summer Convergence. The first loop consists of sounds of glacier’s melting underwater at incredible rates from around the world layered in Ableton. The rest of the loops, which make up the “beat” of the piece, are created live by the duochordist. The piece mourns the liquefaction of these frozen giants, the resulting rising sea levels, and the hundreds of millions of climate refugees that will soon be without home. Built by composer, performer, and luthier John C. L. Jansen, the duochord is an incredible instrument capable of beautifully resonant tones along the harmonic series. In Meltwater, the duochord is played with a bow, pick, and fingers by bowing, striking, or plucking the instrument on all different locations of the instrument and in all kinds of manners. You can read more about the duochord, John’s other instruments, and his music at the website linked above.