Work Overview
This piece is inspired by a particular rock mass near my home in the Blue Mountains. This mass appears to describe the shape of Physeter macrocephalus, commonly known as a Sperm Whale. On first contemplation the link between the ocean and the rocks of the Blue Mountains seemed remote until I started researching further, discovering that in fact there are many ocean fossils in the rocks and sediments of the mountains, mostly in the form of acritarchs, organic-walled microfossils which can be single celled, a cluster of cells, filaments or carbonaceous remnants of animal body parts. This work is a contemplation on the 'study of dust' (palynology) and our deep and ancient connection with Mother Earth.
Work Details
Year: 2023
Instrumentation: Flute (doubling piccolo), bass clarinet, trumpet in B flat, tenor trombone, percussion (2 hand drums mounted, crotales, mounted cymbal, mounted upturned cymbal, tam-tam, bass drum, high woodblock, ratchet), piano, strings.
Duration: 11 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — Preprations and advanced instrumental techniques e.g. multiphonics
Commission note: Commissioned by Liza Lim.. Commissioned by Liza Lim for the Composing Women Program Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows
First performance: 10 Mar 23. Sydney Conservatorium of Music, NSW
Performances of this work
11 Mar 2023: at A Celebration of 'Composing Women' (Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music).
10 Mar 23: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, NSW
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