Remanence

What remains after a sound's apparent cause disappears: prepared-piano strings, muted attacks and soundboard resonance, with springs holding excitation that re-emerges later.

Year
2026
Category
Electroacoustic
Instrumentation
Fixed media — prepared piano and metal springs

Remanence is concerned with what remains after the apparent cause of a sound has disappeared. Prepared-piano strings, internal plucks, muted attacks, soundboard resonances and mechanical sounds provide short events with complex internal decay. Metal springs and coils introduce another form of stored energy: excitation can travel, remain suspended and re-emerge after the initial gesture.

Seventh piece of A Mechanics of Almost.