Arcana : Density 21.5

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Density 21.5, on a score by Edgar Varese, changed the career of Carolyn Carlson (born in 1943). In 1973, on tour in Hamburg with Alwin Nikolais’ company, she was noticed by Rolf Liebermann, then director of the Hamburg Opera. He offered her to create a work for a “Tribute to Varese” evening, at the place at the Paris Opera. Carolyn Carlson accepted and created Density 21.5 on a platinum flute score from Varese. All Carlson is already in Density 21.5. Long and flexible line broken by small jerky gestures of arms, verticality and spiral… Carlson’s typical vibration radiates this piece stretched over the ultra-fine thread of the melody. Here again, his unique way of slipping an intimate confidence without ever departing from its abstract elegance. Behind Density 21.5 is already looming the shadow of her iconic solo Blue Lady (1983).

Source: Rosita Boisseau, INA