Magnetic Fields

  ”Magnetic fields” is a fantasy-like piece for solo harp.  A special feature of the piece is the tuning of the instrument – nine of the instrument’s 47 strings are tuned in an unconventional way. These tunings allow better resonances and more accurate presentation of the harmonic series than normal tuning. The harmony of the work, which has mystical, other-worldly and ambiguous character, is built on these resonances of nature.

  The title refers to music’s tendency to seek towards certain points of gravity – like the tonic of the tonal music. In this piece, these points of gravity are individual tones, which are approached with a free pulsating rhythm. The rhythm speeds up and slows down partly as defined in the score, partly according to the player’s free interpretation. These points are approached and exited with a whirling movement, never completely stopping or sinking into them. Between the situations controlled by magnetism and gravity, there is music floating in a perfect vacuum, which has escaped beyond the reach of these magnetic fields.