Timber is an evening-length tour de force. Scored for six graduated wooden Simantras — percussion instruments devised by French composer Iannis Xenakis — the work brings the physicality, endurance and technique of percussion performance to a new level. In this new work, Gordon shapes the music in both polyrhythmic and dynamic waves of textures — often each players’ hands are in separate rhythmic ‘worlds’, each traversing a different dynamic contour from loud to soft to loud, similar in some respects to his solo for percussion, XY.

Much of Gordon’s music demonstrates a deep exploration into the extreme possibilities and stunning nature of rhythm, as well as the enriching, yet disturbing, multidimensionality of polyrhythmic layers — what has been termed in his music to be, “glorious confusion.” Many of Gordon’s works, including Trance, Gotham, Decasia, and his most recent orchestral work, Dystopia, point to Gordon’s interest in complex rhythmic and textural territory. Gordon’s percussion sextet takes these elements and explores the extreme possibilities of rhythm and texture to a beautifully intense degree. The new work is indeed a unique and exciting addition to the world of percussion.

Timber was co-commissioned by the Dutch dance company, Club Guy and Roni, Slagwerk den Haag, Mantra Percussion, with generous support from the Nief-Norf project.