Abstract
Delirium Tremens is a piece of new music composed for percussion, flute, piano, and electric bass. In composing this piece, I endeavored to find a way to convincingly integrate the electric bass into an otherwise traditional classical chamber ensemble of acoustic instruments. The bass is quite versatile, and the addition of amplification and electronics introduces another realm of possibility for this underused and underappreciated instrument; I set out to explore the tonal range and timbral breadth of the electric bass with alacrity. Utilizing the bass in its conventional role as a rhythm section instrument as well as exploiting it as a melodic counterpart with the rest of the ensemble allowed me to achieve my goal of seamless integration. This dual role allowed the bass to achieve timbral similarity and tonal clarity when necessary, blending into the music in a very natural way. Conversely, it also allowed for the idiosyncratic nature of the instrument to be showcased in a memorable fashion that was still musically and compositionally sound. I also paid particular attention to the use of natural harmonics on the bass in a melodic fashion, something relatively uncommon in this setting. The resulting music sounds organic and emblematic of the style while still retaining a unique component in the synthesis of chamber music and the electric bass.