”Altair" is a piece that is going to be written for and commissioned by Duo TÖ (Torun Stavseng, cello & Anna Christensen, piano).
The title ”Altair" refers to the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. Altair is one of the closest stars visible to the naked eye. There is a phenomenon on the star that is called gravity darkening, which means that it is colder at the equator than at the poles; it is more luminous at the poles as well. The word altair can be translated from arabic (an-nasr aṭ-ṭā’ir) as flying eagle. It is not the first time I am inspired by birds of prey (ex. Macronectes). I have been fascinated by these types of birds since I was a child; both reading about and painted birds of prey). And it is not the first time I am inspired by space (ex. Achenar, Neo…), but that inspiration is always connected with a story or another inspiration as well.
This piece will hopefully be performed in 2017.
Peregrine falcon (sketch from 2002)