Ambrose Field: Frozen Reflection Sleeping Buffalo for piano and mechanical resonating devices (EBow) | Piano: Megumi Masaki | Dur 15.30 | Published 28 June 2018

Sparse, delicate textures in a cold and subdued landscape, inspired by the First Nations Legend of Sleeping Buffalo. The natural decay and resonance of the harmonies become modulated by sustained drones created by EBows (an electro-mechanical resonating device), creating designed, yet natural acoustic effects as the two mix, super-impose, and die away. The second half of the piece is the inverse to the first, in terms of harmony, rhythm and character. For the pianist, the piano pedal is a precision instrument. Here it functions to shape and control the mechanical resonances too. The piece was composed at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, Canada in the freezing winter of 2017. Frozen reflection, Sleeping Buffalo is written for Megumi Masaki. I am extremely grateful for her generous input during the compositional process, which has helped me shape and refine this piece.

* Please use headphones if you have them (to hear the delicate, tiny reverberation effects within the sounds too, which are very much part of the piece).