Karlheinz Essl

Trois Cent Drones

for toy piano and live-electronics
2019-2021

About

This composition is a transformation of the original piano piece Trois cent notes, in which the resonances of the sympathetic strings of the grand piano are simulated by electronic means. The toy piano becomes a new instrument with an artificial sustain pedal.

To perform the piece, please contact the author to receive the necessary software for the live electronics, which must be played by a second musician.

Although notated in eighth notes only, the tempo covers a wide range from very slow to extremely fast. Starting from a speed of MM = 50, it gradually accelerates to MM = 400, which corresponds to three "time octaves", to paraphrase Karlheinz Stockhausen (see his famous article ...how time passes... from 1957). A similar transition occurs in the harmonic domain, where the range of three octaves (from F to f") eventually collapses into a single pitch (f'):

Harmonic structure
© 2019-2021 by Karlheinz Essl

Listen

Trois Cent Drones performed by Isabel Ettenauer and Karlheinz Essl
From the CD whatever shall be (col legno 2023)

Watch

Trois Cent Drones premiered by Isabel Ettenauer
(Michelsonne toy piano) and Karlheinz Essl (live-electronics)
Kulturbrücke Fratres, 24 Jul 2021
Video: Benjamin Epp

Trois Cent Drones performed by Luca Lavuri
(Michelsonne toy piano) and Karlheinz Essl (live-electronics)
Abschiedskonzert Karlheinz Essl @ mdw, 7 May 2025
Video: Dominik Förtsch

Scores

Here you can download the score for free. Please note that this composition is protected by copyright.

Software

The software for the live-electronics (running under macOS) is available on request...

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Updated: 7 May 2025