Heating the reeds : Just intonation and learning the shō

This text outlines recent developments in my artistic practice. The two underlying themes of this work are my intonation practice, with and emphasis on just intonation, as well as the Japanese mouth-organ shō, which I am currently learning to play. The text discusses these topics, along with four of my recent works: Hypothermia for bass drum (2020) for gran cassa and electronics; Stycke för cembalo och elektronik (2021) for harpsichord and electronics; Breathing, bowing (2022) for viola da gamba and electronics; and Solo #1 (2022) for shō and unfiltered sawtooth waves. In these four pieces, I have explored different ways for the electronics to relate to and interact with the respective acoustic instruments with regards to intonation, spectromorphology and timbre. Both the pieces and the two underlying themes have not only been ventures into new aesthetic and technological areas, but they have also shaped my outlook on composition and the relationship between composer and musician.The presentation refers to my graduation concert, where two of the pieces discussed in this text were presented: Breathing, bowing and Solo #1. Along with these pieces, during the concert a newly composed ensemble piece was presented with me playing the shō alongside Johan Arrias (soprano saxophone), Gard Nergaard (hardingfela) and Vilhelm Bromander (contrabass).