麻豆社

Matthew Kaner is Radio 3鈥檚 Embedded Composer in 3, in partnership with Sound and Music. Listen to the fourth of Matthew's weekly commissions for 70 at 70, a series of musical and cultural commissions to mark 70 years of 麻豆社 Radio 3.

Fixations takes for its starting point the music of the late French composer Henri Dutilleux (pictured), and in particular his trademark technique of using a "fixed" or recurring chord. Returning to the established chord can create a sense of recollection within a piece; and it was this concept of time and memory that was central to Dutilleux's work - perhaps a product of the influence of the writings of Marcel Proust, whom he greatly admired.

Dutilleux is a composer that Matthew Kaner has always been drawn to. "The exquisite clarity and sensuousness of his harmony and orchestration are incredibly appealing," he says. "I often turn to his work when I need to find greater clarity in my own musical thoughts."

In this short piano piece, there are actually a couple of "fixations": two chords, and gestures associated with them, that return throughout the work. These are interspersed with more lyrical, dreamy material, as well as some very energetic toccata-like writing.

Musicians: Richard Uttley (piano)

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