rush!

rush!
Tape composition for prepared electro-acoustic table guitar, objects, voice samples, radio and electronics.

Another Timbre, Berlin Series, UK, 2013

“This is the second split disc in the Berlin series of CD’s.  The second half of the disc is a typically engaged solo from Annette Krebs, one of the key figures in Berlin’s music scene for the past 20 years. Using electric guitar, electronics and taped voices, Annette creates two versions of the same piece – a dramatic and challenging work which, as ever, pushes at the boundaries of what is possible and what is expected.

The sketches, detailed worknotes and diagrams that underlay the making of ‘rush!’ can be seen on her website. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the way Annette develops her music.

“Important motivations for my music are curiosity and a drive to research. I like to work with combinations of materials and questions which for me haven‘t yet been answered in a convincing way, and which therefore challenge me.

Having explored and thematised the guitar for the past 20 years – until now just amplifying it, without using effects or digital filters – I now know its potential, its range of colours and noises, and their possible combinations very well.  Also, I feel that I have extensively developed the possibilities of my current instrumental setup – which consists of amplified prepared guitar, selected objects, mixing desk and tape – in many pieces and projects. Now I have new ideas, which I can no longer realise with this instrumentation. So I have taken a decision to adapt my setup to these new ideas, instead of continuing with my existing setup and so being partially restricted by it. That is why rush! could be the last solo for my “old” instrumentation.”  ”                  

Simon Reynell/ Annette Krebs,  February 2014

Composition and process of creation
(excerpts)

Preliminary versions and sketches: drawings

Score sketches

Material studies

Research: string cracking on bass strings played by hand, spectral images

Research: sketches of possible material arrangement of pops in a given time in MAX/MSP.

Two final versions: Screenshots in Logic Pro

Reviews

Review by Thomas Millroth

Review by Brian Olewnick

Review by Julien Héraud

Interview with Simon Reynell

“You’ve been a central figure in the music scene in Berlin for a long time now, but always seem to be at the cutting edge of new developments. You told me that ‘Rush!’ is likely to be your last solo for your now familiar instrumentation of guitar, electronics and voices. Why is this?”

” Important motivations for my music are curiosity and drive to research.
I work preferably with material-combinations and questions, which are for me not yet answered in a convincing way, and which are therefore challenging me.

After having explored and thematized the guitar within the last 20 years – until now just amplifying it, without the utilization of effects or digital filters – i know now its potential, its
range of colors and noises, and their possible combinations very well.
Also the possibilities of my actual instrumental setup, consisting in a amplified prepared guitar, selected objects, mixing desk and tape, i elaborated extensively in many pieces and projects and have new ideas, which i can not anymore realize with this.

So i took the decision to adapt my instrumental setup to these new ideas, instead of proceeding from my previous setup and partially being restricted by it.

This is, why “rush!” could be the last solo for my “old” instrumentation.”