A comission by Atem Duo, Sören Hermansson and Ivo Nilsson has resulted in the piece Air, thick in circles.
The piece explores the cyclical nature of performance, where playing and action merge into a continuous ritual. The work unfolds in distinct but interwoven sections:
First section introduces a space of near-silence—an atmosphere shaped by breath, motion, and the absence of a clear bell sound, with minimal voice.
Second section develops circular motion in both playing and the performer’s distance to the mouthpiece, creating long, evolving lines where action shifts, but continuity is maintained.
The final seciotn intensifies this approach, introducing a raw, screaming quality and a more prominent trombone solo, drawing from some earlier material for trombone solo while maintaining the circular structure.
At its core, the piece examines how music materializes in the act of bringing the instrument to the lips—where gesture and sound become inseparable.
The piece is planned to have it’s premiere later this year.
