An example of a simple L-system.
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Song employs a six-note motif that provides all the source material for a series of variations based on each note of the motif. Associative structures, based on the theory of L-systems, are set up to generate these variants from short recursive definitions. Between each variant the motif slowly rotates. This is a reflective movement in which the player is asked to execute the entire material on the d string, adding glissando, portamenti, wide vibrato and micro-tonal fluctuations in the manner of an ‘imaginary’ exotic folk instrument imitating the human voice. Other works which use L-Systems are the composer’s Treeness
for viola and chamber organ and Heartstone for wind, brass, piano and percussion.