Flute

is.nova.in? (2022)

This piece is written for the SPLICE Institute 2022, in collaboration with Alexander Ishov.

is.nova.in? delves into the themes of censorship and misinformation, serving as a poignant commentary on the internal struggles experienced by individuals residing in censored societies. At its essence, the composition functions as both a puzzle and a conversation, involving a live flutist, recorded flute, and voices. The words utilized in the piece revolve around the letters found in the title: a, i, i, n, n, o, s, and v. These letters generate words and musical gestures, and the meaning of the words guides the development of the musical characters.
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Within this context, one particular combination of letters is prohibited. As the flutist edges closer to pronouncing the forbidden word, the sonic space becomes inundated with an increasing multitude of words. In such circumstances, the solution lies in expressing everything except for the censored word, relying on the conversation partner to fill in the unspoken void. The individual is compelled to engage in self-censorship as a means of survival, navigating a delicate balance between self-expression and adherence to imposed restrictions. 
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Notes by Alexander Ishov and Wang Ziyu.