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When UmeDuo commissioned Bells and Tides they asked for a piece freely inspired by music from another culture. I choose Carnatic music of southern India, with the most concrete inspiration source being the characteristic percussion instrument Ghatam. The pitch of the Ghatam used by UmeDuo, a quarter tone low F, became the fundament of the piece. Around the sound of the Ghatam I wanted to build an undulating, inharmonic sound world, expanding and contracting – Tides. In the cello; glissandi, natural harmonics and prepared strings creating gong-like sounds, in percussion; Japanese singing bowls, gongs and saucer bells. The second part focuses on hands and fingers on the Indian hand drum Dholak, frame drum and Ghatam and quiet percussive sounds on the cello.
