Distant V O I C E S

This quintet is a microcosm. The flute, clarinet, violin, and cello represent societies across planet Earth, embodied in the piano. When they gather, disagreements lead to a brawl for dominance. They fight until they eventually reach a resolution, arriving at a unison B (for ‘being’). From there, they step back and reflect on the damage they have inflicted onto their world. They realise that by slowing down and thinking more, they can create peace and harmony, spreading the message of love all over the world. In the words of Helen Keller, ‘alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’.

Although this piece is an intimate exploration of timbre, the players are situated away from each other to create a sense of vastness and expose the subtleties within the subdued textures. The beginning shows various ways to orchestrate minimal pitches, such as using the distinct registers of each instrument, harmonics, and sympathetic vibrations. Cassandra Miller and Thomas Adès were the strongest influences on this piece as Miller’s compositions contain great vocality, allowing for maximum expression from players, while Adès’s work has minimalistic tendencies, encouraging further exploration of rhythm, metre, and timbre. Each instrument plays different counterpoints, akin to the micropolyphony of Ligeti. Despite standing apart throughout the performance, their ideas intertwine and mingle until they merge in unison.

Sanook Boonpan - Flute & Alto Flute

Supak Wittayanukulluk - Clarinet & Bass Clarinet

Varis Sirisook - Violin

Supanee Sonchaiwanich - Violoncello

Gun Chaikittiwatana - Piano

Filmed on 22nd October 2024 at studio amadé

Akkradanai Mongkorn - Camera