Dependency

This is about sparse material, and how it often is depending on other (sparse) material. Often, it is in the light of the others’ choices that my choices, my sparse musical material in a given situation, become…something. It is the combination the material takes part in that makes it something, a composite, and not just­…a vague thing. Without this relation of dependency, it is often just that – a sound, chord, rhythm.  

“Big ideas are of little value in improvisation” John Butcher declares (2011)¹. By “Big ideas” in Butcher’s essay I read and understand ideas and musical material that is too big for the community, too fixed for the situation to be able to contribute in a dialogue.

If I, in an ensemble situation, chose to play something that I want to be something on its own, if I have too big ideas, it is often not inviting. It does not invite the others in. There is not enough space, not enough options for collaboration, variation, interaction. This is why I often choose dependency (and sparseness), especially in Dans les arbres.