Written for percussion and tape. The tape part is made by the percussionist prior to the performance.

Commissioned by Frankfurt Ballet and first performed on 31st January 1997, at the Schauspielhaus, Frankfurt by Robyn Schulkowsky.

The title of this work - Akrodha - is a Sanskrit word meaning "Freedom from Anger". The piece was written without any conscious system whatsoever and consists of two movements, to both of which the title applies: the first being in a state of high energy and the second being in a state of lower energy. The work lasts approximately 26 minutes and is dedicated to tonight's soloist, Jonny Axelsson. KV

Review

[The] recital was a showcase of Volans' imagination, his ability to draw an almost infinite array of patterns and effects from a relatively limited range of unpitched instruments. The 1985 She Who Sleeps with a Small Blanket is already a bit of a classic. The brief and violent Asanga (1997), however, and the expansive and wonderfully intricate Akrodha (1998) are not so well known, but clearly should be.
Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 24/11/2004

Scored for Percussion Solo.
Written for Robyn Schulkowsky and first performed by her at the Museum Carolino Augusteum in Salzburg 1985. By limiting the instrumentation to drums only, the composer explored several kinds of patterning, the principal one being cross-rhythms in triplets played with two sticks. Duration 16 minutes.

Score of Rolf Wallin's Stonewave for solo Percussion.

Composer's Notes:
The last few years I have become increasingly involved in some peculiar mathematical formulas called "fractals". These formulas, used in the fast growing field of "Chaos theory", are relatively simple, but they generate fascinating and surprisingly "organic" patterns when shown graphically on a computer screen, or played as music.
One should think that such a mathematical approach would lead to sterile and 'theoretical' music. The sound world of 'Stonewave', however, is not one you would associate with math books. The steady, insistent pulse, and the use of sequences put squarely up against each other or divided by long rests suggest an invisible ritual. A ritual for what?
Well then, let it be a ritual for the exorcism of some 'evil spirits' which now ride our part of the world under the name of Liberalism, making people the servants of the Market Forces instead of vice versa.
'Stonewave' is therefore an incantation, as it seems that only divine forces can save European culture from a political system that proclaims the Jungle Law as the guiding principle in social and cultural life. Rolf Wallin

Epigramm und Epitaph für Percussion Solo - 1.Satz Epigramm für 4 Bongos, Pedal Tomtom, Splash (ca. 3 Min.); 2. Satz Epitaph für A-Marimba (ca. 3'45 Min.), 4 Schl., Streicherbogen, schwer

"Epigramm" zeichnet die Struktur eines solchen kurzen "Sinnspruchs" nach. Eine "erste Zeile" schildert eine Situation, die von der "zweiten Zeile" kontrapunktiert wird.

"Epitaph" ist ein ruhiger Nachruf auf die Unvergänglichkeit eines "Seelenwesens" an sich.

Eröffnung für Große Trommel solo - 3 Min.; 4 Schl. ; schwer

- 7 Min.; 3 Sätze als 3 Stationen; Neue Musik; Kl.Tr. (umgehängt), Schlitztrommel, Flaschenspiel (4 Fl.), Treteimer (Metall od. Emaille); schwer

Archetyp I, II und III für Percussion Solo: Gehen - Laufen.) für Große Trommel Solo - 5 Min.; Stehen. Überlegen. f. Percussion Solo - 5 Min.; Vibra,Tamb., 2 WBl.; Sitzen/Wanken. für Perc. Solo - 5 Min.; Cajon, Bongos, chin. Bck.; schwer

Dramatis personae für Schlagzeug - Ouvertüre - Prolog - Die
Geliebte - Der Antagonist - Die Begehrte - Der Protagonist -
Der Chor, Congas, 4 Paar Bongos, 6 TBl., 2 Guiro, 2 WBl.,
Glockenspiel, 2 Zymbeln, Gong, Triangel, 2 Windspiele,
verschiedene Eisenrohre, 3 Tambourine, Flexaton (g'-f"), 3
Röhrenglocken, Tan, 4 Becken, Donnerblech,
Muschelwindspiel, Metallophon