"Xical (Xicalcoliuhqui)" 2016 for bass clarinet and live electronics Christina Viola Oorebeek, composer www.christinaoorebeek.com/ Jason Alder, bass clarinet www.jasonalder.com/ first performance in NIEUWENOTEN: Concertseries for contemporary chamber music Sunday 11 december 2016 15:00 CafedeRuimte Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.nieuwenoten-amsterdam.nl Xical is an abbreviation for xicalcoliuhqui "the curved thing on gourd bowls” in Nahuatl, a Mesoamerican language. The precise meaning of the symbol is disputed, but the motive is related to the sea, rain, fertility, life, and the deity Ehecatl Quetzalcoatl. Mesoamerican artists were skilled at creating figure-ground patterns, in which the recessed background mirrors the raised figure. Xicalcoliuhqui is the most common of these motives, found in friezes decorating pyramids, woven textiles, paintings and other objects. “Xical" for bass clarinet and live electronics has five sections, freely associating musically with the lines and steps of this motive - ascending, descending, backwards and forwards vertically and horizontally - repeating, looping and all connected. with thanks for the FPK Performing Arts Fund, the Netherlands

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