84. Blecharz: Intrasounds

Liminal Studies (2014)  

The piece Liminal Studies for string quartet consists of four movements, each of which is performed in a different part of the concert hall. Each movement refers to a different aspect of a transitional state – “not yet here, but no longer there.” 

The idea of “being on both sides of the line” is expressed on many levels: through the musicians’ gestures, their positioning on stage and in space, as well as the bowing technique itself. The bow is drawn on both sides of the finger muting the string, making the sound itself a transitional – a liminal – phenomenon. 

Stimm[i](u)ng for reversed cello (2019)  

The term stimming (self-stimulatory behavior) refers to a set of repetitive behaviors – such as movements, words, sounds, and looped activities – that provide a sense of security and protect against overly intense stimuli in the surrounding environment. 

In German, the word Stimmung can be understood in several ways: as a mood, an emotion, or an atmosphere, but also as the tuning of an instrument or “attuning” oneself to the surroundings.