Christopher Tignor, I, Autocorrelations Review
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Composer, violinist, and software engineer Christopher Tignor is creating a sound that is unique and pushing the boundaries of acoustic and electronic instruments creating organic soundscapes. His writing and unique focus on live, performance-based electroacoustic practices have earned him acclaim from both the classical and experimental communities over the course of his nine albums on the Western Vinyl and New Albion record labels. Tignor creates his own live performance software, sharing it freely for all to use. Tignor is a senior software engineer at Google, and recently completed his PhD in Composition at Princeton. As a composer, he has written and recorded works for many ensembles including: The Knights, A Far Cry, and Brooklyn Rider, performing alongside them at premiere venues including Carnegie’s Zankel Hall. As a string arranger, he has worked with Helios, John Congleton, This Will Destroy You, Meshell Ndegeocello, and several other artists at the boundaries of popular music. Tignor explains further about his process, “I built software and performance methods that let me wield modern electronic forces using acoustic instruments: my violin and percussion. Using custom violin processing, kick drum triggered synths, tuning forks, hi-hats, triangles, and bells, I created a space for truly contemporary and highly expressive instrumental narratives, often surrounded live with vivid video. Using no overdubs, pre-recorded tracks, clicks, or looping, this music dismissed electronic music’s grid, reclaiming time as a first order expressive element, flexing it, while doubling down on the performance aspect of this performance art. The music brought me around the world, from Tbilisi, Georgia to Havana, Cuba, and many points between, ever-refining my ideas for what might be next.” On October 11, 2019 Tignor is releasing the album titled, A Light Below on Western Vinyl. “I, Autocorrelations” is the first single from the album that has elements modern classical combined with innovative violin techniques, triggered synth sounds, percussion and tuning forks.
Positives:
Tignor is creating a striking sound with his creative use of acoustic instruments and expressive music software. His inventive application of music software is out-of-the-box and highly original.
Bottom Line:
With a steady kick drumbeat, “I, Autocorrelations" reveals its multiple layers of synth sounds, violin lines and percussion. The violin counterpoint created is beautiful and it delivers a moving emotional impact. Tigor explains his mindset, "You can think of this as a record for prepared violin and percussion.” The multi-layered effect is the heart of the success of “I, Autocorrelations" interesting building soundscapes overtime. Tigor’s use of pizzicato to create polyrhythms is very hip. In a broader sense, the density of sounds and activity is something Tigor also controls in the composition. There are breaths, intense moments and flowing sounds of emotions, but always in balance and unfolding in a manner that is musical and develops the theme. The unique use of tuning forks and Auto-Tune software as a compositional element demonstrates Tigor’s ear for expressive instrumental narratives that have beauty and imaginative techniques. “I, Autocorrelations" is a wonderful taste of the creativity to come on A Light Below. That’s the short of it!