This piece has been planned several times, for several different combinations of instruments. The first version to be completed (in April 2005) was the solo version, for flute or alto flute. After finishing that version I assumed that the project would end there.
But in September 2005 I decided that I wanted to write a version for Flute, Viola and Harp. I feel that the material from the flute solo has many possibilities pointing towards this trio form, of which Claude Debussy is the spiritual father.
The title is a literal transcription of the third line of a poem by Dylan Thomas: In My Craft or Sullen Art. Thomas describes in a touching way, the thoughts of a poet (or composer?), wondering in the middle of the night for whom he is actually writing his art.
Solo version: Flute or Alto flute. Duration: 4′
Trio version: Flute, Viola, Harp. Duration: 9′
A palimpsest is a manuscript page, scroll, or book that has been written on, scraped off, and used again. The word palimpsest comes from two Greek roots (palin + psEn) meaning “scraped again.” Romans wrote on wax-coated tablets that could be reused, and a passing use of the rather bookish term “palimpsest” by Cicero seems to refer to this practice.
Source: Wikipedia
In this composition I used an approach which I now call my ‘Palimpsest Technique’. First I wrote a layer of very soft repeating patterns. After that I started erasing fragments of this layer and replacing them by other (contrasting) material. This procedure was repeated two times, but in theory this could go on indefinitely. Every time fragments of the piece change, but some parts of the original layer are not affected and therefore remain present.
Palimpsest is a soft piece, without any clear motives or themes. It passes like a cloud, that gradually changes its shape while floating by.
Clarinet, Harp, Violin, Viola (2), Cello. Duration: 12′