De Inwerking (in English: Influence) was finished in 1985. The title refers to a sign (or hexagram) from the book of changes, the I Ching. This particular hexagram (number 31) is based on the image of water (a small lake) on a mountain. ‘Influence’ can also be understood as: ‘being in contact with’. The title was chosen as a metaphor for the clarinet looking for contact with the soundtracks: the ‘fluid’ clarinet and the firm and unmovable electronics.

The soundtracks were made exclusively by manipulating recorded clarinet sounds (played by Michel Marang). This was done in the electronic studio of the ‘Brabants Conservatorium’ in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Chance operations were used for the writing of the clarinet part. This was not done with a computer, but with oldfashioned dice and coins.

The piece starts with a number of lines for clarinet solo, each line played legato in one breath. The melody avoids a tone centre; it never commits to a key or a mode. It moves on and on without ever reaching a home note. After a few minutes, on a high note, a second sound appears: almost unnoticably the tape fades in. A dialogue between clarinet and tape begins, as if they are looking for contact (maybe a seduction?). Both players play equal parts, one never dominating the other. At the end the tape fades out and the clarinet is alone again. But it has changed, and it playes with a completly different energy.

De Inwerking was dedicated to Michel Marang, with great gratitude for everything he did for this piece.

Clarinet and Sound Tracks. Duration: 12 minutes