Synthesis - Physical

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Synthesis was written as a commission by Dr. Shawn Seguin in late 2024 and finished in January 2025 for premiere at the 54th Annual International Double Reed Society Conference. The piece consists of four movements that explore various electric motifs using an acoustic bassoon and various electric guitar pedals. The mix of acoustic and electric sounds lends to the title of the piece, which is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as “The combining of separate elements or substances to form a coherent whole.”

Broadly, the story outlines the transition from the pre-AI to the post-AI world, with the acoustic bassoon representing man and his humanity, and electronics representing the advancement of AI and technology. As a tool, artificial intelligence can be very useful at increasing human productivity, but as many scholars have suggested, the possibility of AI overtaking humans can be seen as a true threat to be wary of.