Someone suggested that Suss Müsik repost our contributions to the weekly Disquiet Junto projects, because they enjoy reading the explanations of the tracks. While you’re reading the original post, make sure you check out the other contributors’ works as well.
Suss Müsik doesn’t believe in coincidence. The timing of this week’s Junto occurs with our current interest in using environmental noise as a compositional element. Also, it’s snowing outside.
The sound of ice hitting glass is inherently percussive. Live sampling allows simple yet compelling rhythmic structures to form. This technique was used to great effect by such artists as Kate Bush (think “Army Dreamers” or “Babooshka” on her album Never For Ever) and Pink Floyd’s famous use of a cash register on “Money.”
This short piece employs three short phrases played in counterpoint on violin, flute and piano, each missing a note at various points. Ice cubes were dropped into a glass tumbler to create the rhythm. (It’s surprisingly difficult to keep accurate time with melting ice — the cubes get slippery). A Boss RV-5 was used for the echoey ice-clink harmonics near the end. Some sort of weird phasing happened in there, but Suss Müsik has no fear of happy accidents so we left it in.
The piece is titled Syllogism, which is a form of deductive reasoning in which three categorical propositions are used to arrive at a false conclusion whose premise is at least one third invalid. We all know the feeling.
Suss Müsik gives a nod to Progchattery777 (who has a wonderful YouTube channel) for reawakening our appreciation of Kate Bush’s early-1980’s work. Special thanks to artist C. Koustourlis for playing the ice.