THE STATE OF THE inSIGNIFICANT

THE STATE OF THE inSIGNIFICANT
Michael Straus, soprano saxophone
Excerpt (0’50″)

Entire work (6’48″)

In THE STATE OF THE inSIGNIFICANT, sounds typically masked by those louder are amplified and accentuated. The form of the piece revolves around these techniques. Through amplification and audio processing, the insignificant becomes something of profound importance and beauty, leaving those sounds normally heard out of the question.

With one exception, all sounds heard in the piece (prerecorded or processed) are derived from the saxophone. The exception is the over-amplified: samples from the most recent “State of the Union Address.” While a transcription of this speech serves as the source of the work’s rhythmic material, the original audio samples are drowned out, leaving most words incomprehensible.

Through these musical concepts, one begs the question of who is given the microphone; who is given power; who is most appropriate to be a leader in our world. THE STATE OF THE inSIGNIFICANT was commissioned by Michael Straus and premiered on the CCRMA Concert Series (Stanford University), April 26, 2008.

*N.B.: The visual elements of the work are of significance. The performer starts from a crouched, tortured position, gradually moving upright while adjusting the microphone and music stand.