Written for five tuned drums, Michael Gordon’s XY is a solo percussion work that explores the percussionist’s hands working independently from each other. The piece begins with the hands working symmetrically – as the right hand gets louder, the left hand gets softer, and vice versa. This happens continuously until the hands start to move at different speeds.
Speaking about the work, Michael Gordon says: “When I was imagining the music of XY, I thought of the double helix of DNA, which wraps around itself and spirals upwards.”
Watch James Larter performing XY below. He’ll be playing this piece amongst others on 4 October, as part of our club night at the Herne Hill Festival.
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As part of the Herne Hill Festival, composer and nonclassical founder Gabriel Prokofiev has curated a programme of electronics, cello and percussion at Off the Cuff on 4 October. Featuring cellist Colin Alexander, percussionist James Larter and Gabriel himself, find out more about the artists performing and what they have in store for you.