Degradations II-a

piano

Yuko Itoh – Excerpt (1’03″)

Yuko Itoh – Entire Work (4’36″)

John Chernoff – Excerpt (0’44″)

John Chernoff – Entire Work (5’28″)

Degradations II-a was premiered by Yuko Itoh on June 17, 2004 in Chicago, IL. The Degradations series explores various parameters in a sound mass’ desecration, each work approached differently in its compositional process. Particularly because of its notation that offers some rhythmic liberty, II-a is perhaps the most improvisatory in the series thus far. All works within the series reflect upon the following (taking note of how some things are preventable and asking humanity how they may inhabit the world).

ice -> heat — water -> cold — ice
human body -> time — loss of youth ->
morals/integrity -> culture/society — degradation of character ->
culture -> mass media — loss of self ->
environment -> human — _____