UC Santa Cruz

The following discussion addresses Refraction Frequency, an orchestral work that draws material from distinct disciplines and utilizes extremely contrasting compositional approaches. The textural complexity contains elements akin to some found in Korean traditional music, where vibrato is an integral expressive device, and spectral noise naturally present within sound is brought out. The emphasis on slower progression of events, particularly evident in rich, gradually-shifting formations is an essential structural characteristic of the work. The produced effect offsets the later usage of quasi-melodies, rooted in a Balkan aesthetic. The notion of vibration unites the piece, originating in Nikola Tesla's polyphase motor and continuing through related ideas in M-theory. The general result is a duality of rest and motion, imbued with vibrancy, on an organic kinetic course.