UBIQUE lives on the border between enigmatic lyricism and atmospheric distortion. Through a combination of sounds, pitches, and textural nuances, low deep drones envelop lyrical materials and harmonies that breathe in and out of focus throughout the progress of the piece. The flow of the music is primarily guided by continuous expansion and contraction — of various kinds and durations — as it streams with subtle interruptions and frictions but ever moving forward in the overall structure.

The work is inspired by the notion of being everywhere at the same time, an enveloping omnipresence, while simultaneously focusing on details within the density of each particle, echoed in various forms of fragmentation and interruption and in the sustain of certain elements of a sound beyond their natural resonance - throughout the piece, sounds are both reduced to their smallest particles and their atmospheric presence expanded towards the infinite.

As with my music generally, the inspiration is not something I am trying to describe through the music as such – it is a way to intuitively approach and work with the core energy, structure, atmosphere and material of the piece.

UBIQUE is 45 minutes in duration and is written in 11 parts, for flutes, grand piano, 2 cellos and pre-constructed electronics. 

– Anna Thorvaldsdottir

Meyer Sound’s pioneering Constellation acoustical system made these recordings possible. Constellation creates ideal and flexible acoustical environments in any room orperformance venue at the flick of switch, giving performer and listener alike the optimal acoustical environment and performance experience. In these recordings, which represent the latest in Claire Chase’s 24-year journey to create a new body of work for the flute, the performers utilized the range of Constellation’s capabilities at Studio 9, The Porches, in North Adams, MA. The recording process was true to a performance: everything you hear on these recordings is from a single take. The emotional impact is extraordinary, and is harnessed by the acoustical environment. The results, as you will hear, are remarkable.

– Matias Tarnopolsky, Density 2036 producer 

UBIQUE was commissioned for the tenth cycle of Claire Chase’s Density 2036 project, a 24-year initiative to create a new repertory for the flute leading up to the centennial of Edgard Varèse’s groundbreaking 1936 flute solo, Density 21.5. Each year until 2036, Chase will commission, premiere, and record an adventurous new program of flute music. 

densityarts.org 

Density 2036, part x (2023) is dedicated to the loving memory of Ryan Muncy.

UBIQUE was co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall, the Cheswatyr Foundation, Kurt Chauviere, and Density Arts. The work was given its world premiere performance at Zankel Hall on May 25, 2023 as part of a ten-year retrospective of the Density project during Claire Chase’s Debs Creative Chair Residency at Carnegie Hall. This album marks the world premiere recording. Special thanks to Carnegie Hall, Ara Guzelimian, John and Helen Meyer, Levy Lorenzo, Dave Dennison, the Music Department at Harvard University, and STEF. 

Claire Chase, flute / bass flute / contrabass flute
Cory Smythe, piano
Katinka Kleijn, cello
Seth Parker Woods, cello

Anna Thorvaldsdottir, composer

A MEYER SOUND PRODUCTION
Helen Meyer and John Meyer, Executive Producers

Rick Jacobsohn, Session Engineer and Producer
Recorded at Studio 9, The Porches, North Adams, MA - October 19, 2023

Collin J. Rae, Executive Producer
Daniel Shores, Mixing and Mastering Engineer
Hrafn Asgeirsson, Cover Photography
Jennifer Taylor, Performance Photography
Joshua Frey, Design & Layout

Ubique

1           part I          5:34

2           part II          10:33

3           part III          1:48

4           part IV          1:28

5           part V          3:58

6           part VI          6:19

7           part VII          0:39

8           part VIII          2:05

9           part IX          5:35

10           part X          1:24

11          part XI          6:45

Release date: February 28th, 2024
UPC: 053479228000

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