Pieces of Eight was written in response to a ‘call for scores’ from French chamber group Ensemble Décadanse who were embarking on a project entitled 2000 miniatures for the year 2000. They were asking for groups of pieces, each item of which was no longer than 10 seconds in duration.
Taking up the challenge, I viewed each piece as a window onto another – hypothetical – larger piece.
Pieces of Eight exists in several versions by the composer:
- flute/violin, B-flat clarinet, cello/double bass & piano – the original version written for Ensemble Décadanse
- soprano saxophone, violin, viola, double bass & piano for Australian group Topology who performed this version at the MiniMax Festival in Brisbane in 20o2
- string quartet
- solo piano, premiered by Luca Tieppo at a London Composers Forum concert in 2011
- solo pedal harp, written for American harpist Shana Norton who recorded it for the Lucky Dip project in 2012.
Additionally, Pieces of Eight was arranged by composer and oboist Catherine Pluygers for the ensemble of the London New Wind Festival who performed it in London in 2009.
The recording here is of the first performance of the piano version, by Italian pianist and composer Luca Tieppo at the London Composers Forum‘s lunchtime concert at St Mary’s, Putney in London, 7 October 2011