Wood and wires is a collection of pieces that combines and juxtaposes instruments from the single reed family, with sounds created electronically. The seven pieces in the collection use different combinations of woodwind timbre, and each modifies or adds to the woodwind palette with synthesized sounds, samples, or electronic effects and processes. Sometimes the aim is to arrive at a homogeneous blend of sound; sometimes an element of incongruity is retained. The pieces do not have individual titles, but only numbers. This does not imply that they should be understood as movements of a single, longer work; it is more an allusion to the additive processes that feature in some of the pieces. Some of these are structural (e.g. ground bass), some are textural, (canons, polyrhythms), and some are rhythmic (expanding bar lengths and phrase lengths). There was no deliberate intention to produce a “crossover” album; nevertheless, in importing sound sources from popular musical genres, occasionally I found other elements of the idiom had arrived in the same package. One. For soprano and tenor saxes, with synthesizers and sampled percussion. Two. For clarinet, with sampled marimba. Three. For alto sax, with synthesizers and drum machine. Four. For solo clarinet, with electronic effects. Five. For solo clarinet, with delay unit. Six. For E flat contrabass clarinet, tenor sax, soprano sax and E flat clarinet, with sampled cowbell and talking drum. Seven. For E flat contrabass clarinet and multi-tracked B flat clarinets. Peter Foster studied music at the Queen's College, Oxford, then as a postgraduate at Reading University. He currently teaches music at a large comprehensive school in Oxfordshire, where his pupils make sure that his musical horizons continue to expand. He is also an active church musician, and has composed many choral and vocal pieces. More of his music can be found at his website, www.ptfoster.com. "...An intriguing collection of pieces....This CD combines lightness with wistful playfulness to pleasing and unusual effect." (www.new-classics.co.uk) “Despite the ‘experimental’ label, the music is tuneful and very accessible.... An interesting and enjoyable taster of the possibilities afforded by the combination of woodwind and electronics.” (Clarinet and Saxophone, Volume 33, Issue 2 - Summer 2008). “Considered on its own terms, Wood and Wires is a very engaging listen. Digital multi-tracking is used to layer up repeated phrases in a way that is clearly influenced by the minimalist school of 20th-century music, but these are overlaid with enough melodic content to satisfy the stuckists of this world.” (Sound on Sound, November 2008).