Five Hemispheres

The compositions in Five Hemispheres feature exotic tunings, rhythms and timbres.

One uses a tuning of seven equal steps per octave.  The composition uses a simple AABAAAB song structure based on a single chord progression.

Two is tuned in 15 steps / octave.  Two melodic voices intertwine over a constantly changing continuo of piano and mallet instruments.  Metric modulations are introduced in the middle section.  The main melodies are recapped in the last section.

Three uses 21 steps / octave.  The first string choral section is followed by an improvisation in 7 / octave that recalls the theme of One.  The piece wraps up with an unconventional cannon-like structure for strings.

Four is a small concerto in one movement for an improvised jazz trombone-like instrument over an updated electronic gamelan, sometimes spooky and hokey at the same time.  The tuning is 8 / octave.

Five is a simple theme with variations for wind instruments tuned in 22 / octave.