Empty Mind I

Empty Mind I is inspired by the work and, above all, the ideas of the American artist Agnes Martin. The work was commissioned by ChampdAction for performance by oboist Piet Van Bockstal. The electronics were developed by Jorrit Tamminga in collaboration with ChampdAction/Studio. The work premiered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in March 2014. Commissioned by deFilharmonie (Royal Flemish Philharmonic and later Antwerp Symphony Orchestra), Wim Henderickx composed Oboe Concerto (Empty Mind I), with Piet Van Bockstal as soloist at the premiere in November 2014 at deSingel in Antwerp. The work consists of six large movements (5+1), which can be performed in any order; the composer's main aim was to break open time and space. He combined the open form (with a free order of the different movements) and the closed form (with a clearly defined score). Each movement has a strictly composed section that reflects continuity, interspersed with a number of free passages in which the material is allowed to follow its own path – chosen by the soloist at that moment – creating discontinuity. A strictly composed melody, based on a keen interest in microtonality, is repeatedly interrupted by these free sections with extensive techniques on the oboe, such as multiphonics, glissandi and the like. The electronics consist, on the one hand, of a harmonic drone (a sound carpet) that is reproduced in different layers and, on the other hand, the sound of the oboe is manipulated live, creating an extensive harmonic spectrum based solely on the tones of this solo instrument. A third important feature of the electronics is despatialisation, whereby the sound fills the entire space through geometric patterns. The spatial aspect of this work is also reinforced by having the successive parts performed in different places in the space.