Eli Wallace - Precepts (2021) [Hi-Res]

Precepts for Piano and Strings is a studio recording of a graphic score composed by Eli Wallace in the fall of 2020. The piece, written for piano, violin, cello, and bass, was recorded in March 2021 at Scholes Street Studio in Brooklyn under the direction of René Pierre Allain.

Inspired by extended piano techniques and the sonic versatility of string instruments, Wallace combined graphic notation with pitch systems, subtly suggesting notes to be played. The work consists of four movements, each containing four pitches, for a total of 16 pitches, some of which repeat. Each instrument is assigned one pitch per movement, but musicians may switch to another part to play a note from a different performer’s part. While pitch selection follows a serialistic method, the pitches are optional for this graphic score composed for improvisers. In some movements, the pitches are frequently heard, while in others, they are absent.

The graphics unify the music, determining the piece’s structure and the interplay between musicians. Lines on the page represent each performer, with their connections, proximity, or separation indicating the level of interaction and rhythmical synchronization between them. Loose durations are provided for each movement to guide the approximate length.

On an emotional level, the piece explores themes of isolation and the need for continued musical collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was designed for execution without rehearsal or preparation, emphasizing urgency and immediacy in the musicians' interaction. The recording represents the first take of the piece, serving as a framework or set of guidelines for a single session.

Tracklist:
1-1. Eli Wallace - I (08:53)
1-2. Eli Wallace - II (11:37)
1-3. Eli Wallace - III (12:34)
1-4. Eli Wallace - IV (08:45)