“A New Dissonance” began in 2008 as an interdisciplinary project focusing on the study of Ben Johnston’s music and ideas, unseen connections between art forms, and the creation of new works of art based on these ideas. During that initial stage I filmed Ben working with the Kepler Quartet–documenting the preparation, rehearsal and recording of his 10th String Quartet, hoping to provide insight to the creative process of Johnston and his music–including his system of Extended Just Intonation and his particular notation. In addition to the rehearsal process, I began conducting a series of video interviews with Ben, with subjects ranging from biographical info to acoustics to compositional technique and methodology.
The name “A New Dissonance” came from something Ben said while he was explaining the goals for that summer’s rehearsal period. He said that by using Andy Stefik’s improved computer realizations of the score to more accurately get the microtones just right…that the quartet would breathe new life into the piece…that they would find a new dissonance.
Now the project, just like the 10th string quartet, has taken on a life of its own, meeting and surpassing our initial goals. We continue to redefine it with each step.
“This is a first project; hopefully more to come.” —-Ben Johnston
This project was initially made possible by the support of the Ideas for Creative Exploration (ICE) and the University of Georgia.
