Tampura suggests that atmosphere, in the sense of a surrounding envelope, may be more appropriate to empty space than other commonly held perspectives. However, like the instrument from which the work derives its name, Tampura is plural and its ostinato operates across the boundary between signal and empty space. 

Commissioned for Signal

Mark Wastell has been active in contemporary music since 1995, making his initial concerts with the trio IST (with Simon H. Fell and Rhodri Davies) and Chris Burn's Ensemble. He is currently a member of a number of leading ensembles including The Sealed Knot (with Rhodri Davies and Burkhard Beins), +minus (with Graham Halliwell and Bernhard Günter). Sakada (with Mattin and Eddie Prévost), The Scotch of St. James (with Tim Barnes), Open (with Phil Durrant and Matt Davis) and Broken Consort (with Rhodri Davies). He has collaborated with numerous musicians including Otomo Yoshihide, John Tilbury, Lasse Marhaug, Toshimaru Nakamura, John Zorn, Sachiko M, Keith Rowe, Tony Conrad, Evan Parker, Annette Krebs, John Wall, Taku Sugimoto, David Toop and Derek Bailey. 

Mark has performed at many international festivals and toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, Scandinavia, America and the Far East. His recording output to date exceeds forty-five published releases on a variety of labels which include Confront (UK), Erstwhile (USA), Trente Oiseaux (Germany), Incus (UK), Meniscus (USA), Hibari (Japan), Absinth (Germany), Rossbin (Italy), w.m.o/r (Spain) and Absurd (Greece).