Contra

Contra is an app. 15 minute long work for four electric guitars with effects pedals. It was commissioned by Tim Brady for his Instruments of Happiness ensemble. Contra was created with generous input from Brady, who has dedicated a large part of his creative life to the intersection of chamber music and the electric guitar. Conceptually, Contra is structured around the principle of the contradictory note from Brady's 1982 article, Nontonal Resources for the Guitarist-Improviser and Composer. The principle is as follows: 'Add a minor 2nd or major 7th to a chord in order to destroy its tonal characteristics. This contradictory note must be completely foreign to the key implied by the interval or chord.' The idea of creating a non-tonal object via the addition of a foreign note to a familiar chord sparked my interest and was my guiding light for creating harmony and pitch content throughout the piece.

Recorded by Andrew David, conducted by Tim Brady, Engraved by N. M. Ryan