lucite dreams (2022)
Percussion duo (Vibraphone, Marimba, Glockenspiel, 2 Cymbals) and String Quartet
Duration: 15’
Premiered by Arx Duo and Bergamot Quartet at Taplin Auditorium, March 29, 2022
Program note
Lucite is “a solid transparent plastic made of polymethyl methacrylate.” It is clear, high quality plastic that is rather durable. My knowledge of lucite as a material is solely informed by lucite furniture. As such, lucite dreams is a three-movement work in which each movement is responding to a different aspect of lucite furniture.
Movement I: Tobias
IKEA sells a chair named Tobias. It is not made of lucite, but is made of a clear plastic seat that closely resembles lucite. On Facebook Marketplace, people will often sell Tobias chairs claiming that they are “lucite cantilever chairs” or “vintage lucite Cesca chairs” or some other title that suggests that the Tobias is something rather than what it actually is. So, this movement, titled “Tobias”, is somewhat about how things aren’t exactly as they seem.
But this isn’t always a bad thing. The IKEA Tobias isn’t vintage anything, nor is it lucite. However, it still looks great and is (…somewhat…) comfy!
Movement II. Waterfall
“Waterfall” is inspired by waterfall tables, which are tables that have a curve and steep drop-off that resembles a waterfall, hence the name. Waterfall tables are often made out of lucite, and the first one that I’ve ever seen was made out of lucite (as opposed to glass or wood).
The central material for this movement is a terraced, descending waterfall-adjacent gesture.
Movement III. Plia
“Plia” is inspired by a lucite folding chair designed by Plia for Castelli. The chair is made with a chrome frame and a lucite seat and back. It became popular around the 1960s, and also looks really cool. This material for this movement revolves around metallic ricochet sounds.