DESCRIPTION:
ØX is a piece in which I originally intended to cultivate simplicity -- straight lines, hard edges, noise, silence. It was supposed to be a piece that moved between the extremities of silence (represented by Ø, the empty set) and an unknown factor X that alternates between elements of noise and sine wave-like saxophone tones in the extreme upper register of the instrument, creating amazing difference tones. In the course of the composing process, however, I could not free my mind of the lyrical potential in the pre-recordings made by saxophonist Rolf-Erik Nystrøm. By retaining a lyrical element, the piece takes on a three-dimensional quality in which the saxophone (the human factor?) falls victim of ØX* -- but in a world of art and fairy-tales anything is possible, so the piece has a happy ending!
* ØX is phonologically identical to the Norwegian word 'øks', in English 'axe'.

Dedicated to Rolf-Erik Nystrøm.

- Maja Ratkje