At the opening concert of the Percussive Arts Society festival in Beijing, China, the Percussions de Strasbourg will perform Air Mass by Wenchi Tsai, a work premiered in 2019 at the Théâtre de Hautepierre in Strasbourg.
An air mass is a region of the atmosphere where temperature and humidity conditions are uniform. The main motif, which appears and is repeated throughout the piece, is presented in tutti right from the very beginning. The concept of rhythm is fundamental to Air Mass, as it is constantly subjected to distortions, pressures, fragmentations, and disruptions. The composer has not specified a tempo, leaving the choice to the performers, who must maintain the same tempo from the beginning to the end of the piece. Conceived for six voices, Air Mass can be performed with no restrictions on instruments or the number of performers. Wen-chi Tsai recommends at least three performers but does not set a maximum number. While maintaining the three registers (high, middle, and low), the performers are free to choose the actual notes they wish to play. They also have the option to change instruments and timbres.
🎫 For more information, contact the PAS in Beijing
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