Kelados

KELADOS in D for flute and clarinet was composed in 2012. Kelados (an ancient Greek word) means: noise of rushing waters, loud, screaming, agitation (Aeschylus) and musical sound (Euripides). Also, it means sound, voice of providential laws (Pindar). The work describes all these contrasting emotional tones. The piece is written in one of the 55 multiharmonic, multispectral modes which the composer has devised. The specific modes are based upon new formations of sounds beyond the octave and consist of much smaller intervals of semitones. Simultaneously with the multiharmonic, multispectral mode, there is an ancient greek enharmonic tetrachord which is function as a key figure throughout the whole piece. Ancient Greek music theory distinguished between three genera of tetrachords: diatonic, chromatic and enharmonic. An enharmonic tetrachord is divided (descending) as a ditone (major third) plus two micro-intervals. The work begins with an isocratic on D which is constantly changing and new rhythmic values and timbral techniques are being added. There is a richness of tone colours with contrasting parts which sometimes interchange with thick or dense texture, and other times with transparent or thin textures which give the feeling of relaxation and meditation. Musical sounds, noises, strokes, multiphonics, and the voices of the performers are alternated, as a feast of tones, giving an ancient primitive color. The work is dedicated to the excellent musicians, George Skrivanos and Alexander Michaelides.