synaptic arpeggiator: Full Scores

The concept alone sets this apart: Borboudakis translates the arpeggiator function of 1980s synthesizers into acoustic woodwind writing, creating a piece that sounds utterly contemporary while celebrating analog instrumental technique. The unusual instrumentation (piccolo, cor anglais, clarinet in E-flat, bass clarinet, and contrabassoon) forces players beyond the standard quintet repertoire into unfamiliar doublings and sonorities that demand focused ensemble listening.

Hypnotic and architecturally precise. The piece channels the algorithmic repetition of vintage synthesizers through acoustic breath and key clicks, creating a sound world that feels both mechanical and deeply human. Textures build and shimmer across the five instruments in waves, evoking digital processing translated back into wood and metal.

Advanced chamber ensembles ready to explore contemporary woodwind writing and unusual instrumental combinations. This work suits concert programs that feature 20th and 21st century repertoire or thematic programming around technology, synthesis, and instrumental innovation.

• Treat the arpeggiating figures as interlocking mechanical patterns rather than expressive melodic lines; precision and rhythmic alignment matter more than rubato
• Map out which instruments carry the fundamental pitch and which articulate the overtone partials so the synthetic quality emerges clearly from balanced texture
• Use the full 21-minute duration to your advantage in rehearsal: break the piece into distinct sections and tackle the rhythmic interlocking passages in isolation before running them complete

Ideal as a centerpiece in a contemporary chamber series or as the anchor for a concert exploring electronic and acoustic synthesis. Its 21-minute span allows for substantial programming weight without requiring orchestral forces. The 2011 premiere at Munich's Muffathalle signals this is concert-hall repertoire with a proven track record.

• Reading and performing extended contemporary notation and rhythmic complexity
• Balancing and blending unusual woodwind doublings (cor anglais with clarinet in E-flat, bass clarinet with contrabassoon)
• Executing rapid articulation and key-click techniques with precision
• Understanding synthesis and overtone series as compositional material