prog for pierrot

Prog for Pierrot was inspired by the progressive metal genre, and, more specifically, the song “Fast Worms” by Intronaut.  In this song, Intronaut uses a polyrhythmic technique, which theorist Calder Hannan outlines in his thesis titled Discordant Systems: Uses and Meanings of Rhythmic Difficulty in the Music of Meshuggah and Related Extreme and Progressive Metal Bands. Prog for Pierrot contains two polyrhythmic breakdowns that use this exact technique. While this rhythmic technique was the basis for the piece, there are many other aspects that take influence from the prog metal genre. For example, Prog for Pierrot uses minimal melodic material, riffs, “distortion” effects through overpressure and flutter tongue techniques, and quick metric and dynamic shifts. I find prog metal to be some of the most exciting, driven, and empowering music I listen to, and I hope that this piece has the same effect on both its performers and audience.