Want Not by Samantha Wolf published on 2019-01-10T06:50:31Z Want Not (2018) for Piccolo, Percussion, Piano/Toy Piano and Cello with found objects. Commissioned by Rubiks Collective for the 2017 Pythia Prize. Recorded by Rubiks Collective, Underground Media & Tilman Robinson, September 2018. Influenced by environmentalism, minimalism, extreme frugality, and the aesthetics of damage, 'Want Not' explores the sonic potential of discarded objects, breathing new life into everyday items that would otherwise become landfill. In the scherzo-like opening, a frying pan, mint packets and leftover construction tiles intermingle with percussive Piano sounds. Aeolian tones on the Piccolo complement the mercurial sounds of the Cello prepared with bulldog clips. Music boxes that had been left to gather dust are showcased alongside a Toy Piano and quarter-tone Kalimba. For the final section, empty bottles supplant the Piccolo, augmenting the ethereal sounds of bowed kitchen bowls and piano strings prepared with single-use plastic forks. Overall, the piece is a journey through an eclectic sound world, whimsical and tender at times, solemn and even sinister at others. While obviously critical of modern throwaway culture, 'Want Not' also presents a way to grant would-be litter a new life - as a musical instrument. In doing so, the piece invites the listener to consider the creative possibilities of the objects around them, even if the object appears to have outlived its intended purpose. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26w5NMoYQlU&feature=youtu.be Rubiks: https://rubikscollective.com/ Genre Contemporary Classical