Swamp Song - BSN/CD

Swamp Song for bassoon and CD

by Michael Burns

Swamp Song was written at the Electronic Music Studios at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 1986. All of the sounds on the CD were originally produced in some way on the bassoon and then manipulated electronically. One of the aims was to blur the lines of distinction between electronic and acoustic sounds. The live bassoon plays some effects intended to sound somewhat electronic, and the recording plays some barely transformed acoustic sounds. This, I hope, leads to places where the listener may not be sure of what is on the tape, and what is being played live. The title Swamp Song, while not meant to be programmatic, seems appropriate for a piece that is intended to be lighthearted and fun and is derived from the evocative nature of the sounds that emerged on the tape part. 

- Michael Burns