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Phlogiston

Sheet Music: Performance Parts

Phlogiston / Peggy Polias.

by Peggy Polias (2004)

  • Purchase Price: $39.09 (Usually ships in 3-8 business days) — Add to Cart
  • Library Availability: This item is not available from the Australian Music Centre Library
  • Instrumentation: Flute, clarinet in B flat, 2 violins, viola, cello.

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The title of this work refers to a 17th century scientific theory that was eventually disproven, which hypothesised that combustion was caused by an element called phlogiston. Despite being incorrect, there is something hopeful and poetic about the concept that reminds me of theories of aether. I have tried to capture a lightness, optimism, and a sense of space in the music.

The work was inspired by the video/fire artwork Phlogiston (2009) by Keith Chidzey. Keith Chidzey's video artwork depicts a Ruben's Tube aflame, in mirror image. This gives the appearance of a horizontal band above and below which small flames flicker. I used this visual motif as my departure point in the music of Phlogiston, establishing a unison pitch, F, as a central band that all the instruments gradually enter on. They start to "flicker" to various notes above and below this point, and their gestures grow slowly from flickers into flourishes. Later, the flute and clarinet play a clear, slowly descending line over interlocking pizzicato strings that gradually reduce back down to flickers on the opening pitch F.

Published by: Australian Music Centre — 1 set of 6 performance parts (19p. -- A4 (portrait))

Difficulty: Medium

Duration: 4 mins

First performance by Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra at Kammerklang Ablaze (Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music) on 6 Jun 2014

Typeset edition.

This edition produced 2014.

Related products

This work is also available in the following products:

Phlogiston
Score: Phlogiston / Peggy Polias.

Kammerklang Beta
Digital Audio Album: Kammerklang Beta : 2010-2014.

 

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Analysis & Media

- Resonate Article: Ablaze - inspired by fire and art


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