Stephen A. Taylor - Winged Helix

Performance notes:

Steven Andrew Taylor's piece Winged Helix premiered with the Grossman Ensemble on March 13, 2020. 

Winged Helix is a portrait in sound of the gene FOXP2, the so-called “language gene,” which plays an important role for other animals’ communication as well. When even a tiny mutation occurs, we can lose our ability to speak. “Winged helix” refers to the shape of the protein that FOXP2 encodes. It is a regulator: its job is to help unspool other strands of DNA to become activated, and it surrounds the DNA double helix like a pair of wings. The harmonies for the piece feature just intonation — naturally occurring, microtonal overtones that aren’t often heard. I don’t usually write harmonies this difficult, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s the Grossman Ensemble! There are three main movements, each preceded by a brief “text setting” of the DNA in FOXP2.

I. FOXP2 — a sonification of the gene, with its DNA letters — A (metal) C (ceramic) G (glass), T (wood) — in the percussion. Each three letters of DNA codes for an amino acid; these are played by staccato woodwinds. Melodies, plucked strings and arpeggios represent higher-level, secondary structures: alpha helices, beta sheets, and turns.

II. Unfurl — an impression of a gene unspooling, activating, awakening new possibilities for life. We can hear crickets chirping in the high violins, as one of the earliest forms of animal communication. The music climbs from the lowest instruments, then bursts into a fast, rhythmic pulse, culminating in a unison fanfare.

III. FOXP2: Cardinal to Humpback — the FOXP2 gene again, but this time, instead of melodies we hear a cardinal singing its song (high winds and violins), which suddenly morphs into a humpback whale’s call (bari sax, bass clarinet and lion’s roar).

IV. Thousand Mile Song — over a slowly evolving chorale in the strings, the whales gradually metamorphose back to birds (which are improvised by the players, including the bass clarinet offstage). Dedicated to the musician and author David Rothenberg, who graciously provided the whale sounds that inspired this piece.

V. FOXP2: Double — a variation of the opening movement; all the same things are there, but played by different instruments.

VI. Onomatopoeia — a word which sounds like the thing it signifies (for instance, the buzz of a bee).

Jimi Hendrix said that music is a language in which it’s impossible to lie. But in spoken language we lie all the time; and even when we try to understand each other, we rarely do. Language enabled us to become what we are, but it also holds great danger. The finale, after a peaceful opening, ends in strife. Winged Helix is dedicated with gratitude and admiration to Augusta Read Thomas.