Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

A chorale-like setting of vibraphone performance emanating light from both within and around the instrument body.

'Lux Aeterna' is a multi-media work for live performance of percussion (vibraphone), fixed electronic tape and live-mixed lights. Once the pedal has been triggered, the audio will function as an extension of the vibraphone body's natural resonance to further connect a space between light and sound through durations and subtle beats between partials.

The fixed electronic track is entirely derived of sine waves cycling at regular and interlinking paces throughout the work. The sound file can either be played through stereo or quadrophonic setup (with L/R mirrored so that they occur at diagonals) depending on the space.

Composed for percussionist with electronics of light and sound, Lux Aeterna was first performed in an art gallery and has since been adapted for concert settings. It can either be performed by a solo percussionist, or as a duo with the light component mixed live.

Work Details

Year: 2019

Instrumentation: Vibraphone, electronics.

Duration: 12 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Dedication note: Dedicated to Bartlomiej Sutt. In memoriam, Paweł Adamowicz

Commission note: Written for Bartłomiej Sutt for performances at Pulsar Festival (Copenhagen) and Nowa Muzyka 2019 (Poland)

First performance: by Kirsten Milenko, Bartlomiej Sutt — 6 Mar 19. Udstillingsstedet Q - in tandem with Pulsar Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark

 In Memoriam; Paweł Adamowicz.

The composer notes the following styles, genres & influences associated with this work:

Chorale, spectral, elegy, Felddman, Ligeti, Pärt

This piece was first performed in an art gallery and has since been adapted for concert settings. It can either be performed by a solo percussionist, or as a duo with the light component mixed live.

Light requirements (if mixing light with Max Patch) - 4 40-Watt light globes, 4 cables connecting to each globe individually, Stairville DDS-405 (DMX Dimmer and Switchpack), Entec DMX USB pro, 1 light cable.

Percussion requirements - 4 soft mallets, 4 medium-soft mallets, 2 bows, Small light for instrument if hall is particularly dark (should be a slight glow on the instrument to illuminate the bars).