Quite by chance

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In a bilingual book (English and German) the Swiss/New Zealand composer Kit Powell gives an account of his aesthetic theories and information on all his published works. All of the latter contain "chance" elements that are, however, contained within certain restraints, different in each composition. Certain sounds, rhythms etc. are permissible in a given piece, others are not, but there is freedom in the way they combine. In the introduction, Powell says, "I invented systems in which (chance) would be forced to respond, and, if the system was well made, the results were always positive. ... The art is in being able to invent a system that is complex enough to sound interesting and personal enough to express what I wish to say." One also finds autobiographical material, photographs and comments from friends, critics and journalists, and the account of each work is illustrated with excerpts from its score. The twelve chapters are entitled: Music Theatre - Music with Found Objects - Music with Just a Few Notes - Chance in Music - Abelian Form - Animal and Bird Song - Music from Pictures - Electroacoustic Music - Music with Michael Harlow - Music with Juerg Schubiger - Large Works - Various Philosophies.