Santa Bušs : 'Absinthe' 
for cello, percussion and piano (2012) : 
Trio Art-i-Shock (Live recording)
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"Absinthe is one of the most mystical beverages in the world, and there are hundreds of legends and stories about its specific effect on the imbiber. The only true fact about it is that the beverage, which is known as the 'green fairy', was banned for nearly a century. I am fascinated by the special 'absinthe effect'- the changed sense of reality, the flow and ebb of energy, nervousness which interweaves with apathy and a sense of helpless paralysis, as well as a nearly uncontrollable shift between reality and hallucinations. I am equally interested in the specific process of enjoying absinthe. When the beverage was at its apex of popularity, a ritual for its consumption was developed down to the most specific detail. Of importance is the form of the glass and the special absinthe spoon. The sugar cube on the spoon is slowly melted and dissolved, with icy-cold stream water being poured onto it drop by drop from a special flagon. The water and the sugar drip into the absinthe, and the initial clear or intensively green colour changed to a nearly non-transparent and light blue tint.

The form of the composition can be associated with the shape of the absinthe glass and its importance in the relevant ritual, thinking about materials with various types and characteristics that are involved in this ritual. The glass is hard, but also fragile and transparent, the liquid is transparent and then non-transparent, the sugar is hard and crystal pure or dissolving, and the metal has properties which do not change. The development of events can, to a certain extent, be linked to the ritual of preparing absinthe, as well as to the various effects which the beverage creates. The palette of sound, in turn, can be associated with the way in which this sweetly bitter treasure changes one's views about things and emotions."

Santa Bušs 'ABSINTHE'

santa.buss@gmail.com

Santa BUŠS is a Latvian composer especially interested in detailed pre-compositional process and working with extra-musical ideas (found in other art forms, physiology, history, mythology, nature, architecture, medicine, sports, philosophy, etc.). 

Though her main focus and form of expression has been linked with instrumental music, lately she has discovered a deep interest in the voice and its possibilities, as well as being keen to expand her approach towards sound, composition and exploring different forms of collaboration. 
This also includes exploring territories between conventional and unconventional notation and performance techniques, as well as experimenting between the boundaries of music, theatre and opera, often focusing on the physical manipulation of instruments and the presence of musicians as a source of drama. 

She has studied both composition and musicology at the Latvian Academy of Music and Hamburg University of Music and Theatre. 

Her works have been performed throughout Europe, in North America and Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgBltNTuhvU

Santa Bušs 'ABSINTHE'

Santa Buss