In Memoriam Escher 3 'Distance' (for English horn) 2011 by Saed Haddad

This piece is written for English horn solo (without the use of electronics). The "Arabic" tetrachord 'Hijaz' begins the piece as a reference to the first 4 letters of Escher (namely, ESCH).

The composition creates the illusion of distance as if two English horns one is playing closer to the listener, while the 2nd is playing from far away. Like the other pieces in the cycle 'In Memoriam Escher', the illusion is created by manipulating /composing the dynamics where each of the two English horns is assigned a very precise dynamic level different from the other. The illusion of distance is realized here in many ways: from a simple pedal-tone effect (as it is at the very beginning) to a more sophisticated elaborated use where the 1st English horn (closer to the listener) gradually gets far away, while the 2nd English horn (which is far away from the listener) gets closer.

The recording here is a midi version. This is due to the fact that the piece needs a huge time for rehearsals and recordings of one's own playing in order to achieve the precision in dynamics by which the wished-for illusion(s) are conveyed.