[Smt-talk] accelerandi-pieces

[Daniel Wolf]

Two interesting examples of accelerando or decelerando illusions come to  
mind:

(1) in Central Javanese Karawitan (Gamelan music), the _irama_ system  
coordinates changes in tempi with changes in density so that attacks at  
the highest level of density approach a steady state.

(2) in Alvin Lucier's string quartet, _Navigations for Strings_, a four  
tone semitone cluster is gradually and microtonally compressed to a  
unison.  While doing so,  a gradual accelerandi in the tempo of the notes  
played is contradicted by the rate of audible interference beating between  
the tones, which is ever slower.

Daniel Wolf
composer
Frankfurt