Solar is written for an ensemble of thirteen musicians that includes three non-western instruments. The title of the piece makes an allusion to the sun and its energetic nature, which is reflected in the character of the music. More significantly, it refers to the Argentine artist Xul Solar, whose work I admire profoundly.

I started working on the musical material for Solar last September with the intention of using it in a piece for violoncello and small ensemble. However, as soon as I got the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops with the Nieuw Ensemble it was evident to me that this material would work better with a larger ensemble.

The structure in Solar is quite traditional, consisting of three sections. Unsurprisingly, the work opens with an energetic violoncello solo, where all the harmonic and melodic components of the piece are presented. Throughout the piece, each of these elements is developed, transformed or obsessively repeated. In the second section the materials from the opening are presented in a contrasting manner, and simultaneously developed statistically and intuitively. Before a trio, which consists of the flute, oboe and bass clarinet, goes through all the possible permutations from an exponentially constructed 5-note cell, the violin restates the opening arpeggio gestures from the violoncello in a lyrical line, and the sho prematurely comments on the trio’s material in a fantasy-like manner. The final section works as a recapitulation as the piece the piece drives to a frenetic finish.

This is a recording of the Nieuw Ensemble conducted by Henrik Schaeffer at the Gaudeamus Music Week in 2007.