Staern, Benjamin: Sawtooth/Square

A piano piece inspired by electronic waveforms, focusing on contrast, rhythm, and articulation. Sawtooth and square are terms taken from the world of electronic music, denoting different waveforms with clearly defined on/off states. The sawtooth wave rises linearly and then abruptly falls back to its starting point, while the square wave regularly alternates between two fixed levels. Translated to the sound world of the piano, this results in an expression that is harsh, angular, and at times intentionally unpleasant – not unlike the effect of powerful attacks such as clusters, accents, and clearly marked rhythmic figures. The music is dramatic and absurdly comical, but also periodically groovy, energetic, and almost rock-like in its presentation. For the pianist, this entails a strong focus on timing and gesture, as well as an responsiveness to expressive means with humorous and grotesque features. Clear contrasts and consistent on/off states shape the music all the way to an abrupt and uncompromising end.