The Conjunctions Studies were written as an exercise for Canadian multi instrumentalist Shane Krause to explore some ideas around atonal harmony, repetition, aleatory and generative musics. They are dedicated to the German astronomer, astrologer, physicist and writer Johannes Kepler, whose work on planetary motion described the elliptical orbits of stars around the sun and whose first major discovery was inspired by the periodic conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter. The melodies and chords which emerge from the interactions of the different parts are not unlike the occurrence of constellations, arrangements of stars which are cosmically distant from each other but which appear, on the curved plane of the night sky to be familiar shapes in simple outline.

I Measured the Skies is a recording of 3 different versions of each of the 4 Conjunctions studies, one of each for saxophones, one of each for clarinet and one of each for a combination of saxophones and clarinets, with different methods of improvising with the studies. I Measured the Skies was written, recorded and performed (via overdubbing) by Shane Krause, on baritone, alto and sopranino saxophones; and Bb soprano and bass clarinets. It was mixed by Shane Krause and François Houle and mastered by François Houle. Cover painting by Mark Neufeld. Cover design and layout by Shane Krause. It is the second release of music not by François Houle on Houle’s Afterday Audio.