Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Vessels is based on a Jewish Kabbalistic interpretation of creation, as described by my teacher Deborah Mazel Miller z"l.

In Kabbala, Ain Sof, refers to an ethereal, boundless, all-knowing, eternity, from which the universe emerged by way of TzimTzum; a sudden and great contraction.

Into this contracted space descended the twenty-two Kelim (vessels), each containing a single Hebrew letter that embodies a fundamental element of the Universe. These vessels then shatter, releasing these elements to scatter and interweave with one another, to thus create all facets of life on Earth. Here, the story begins and continues to this day.

Whilst the story and seeds of this work lie within Judaism, this work seeks to speak of the battle between strength and violence and generosity, deep compassion and love. The conclusion for these dicotomies within the work is one of balance.

Where either Chessed (Kindness, compassion, Love) or G'vurah (strength, brawn assertion, restraint) are expressed without the balance of the other, hardship and harm come to pass: Kindness without restraint can be overbearing, not allowing another the space for learning or free choice. Whereas with restraint and strength alone, we find only cruelty, hatred, fear, terror, control, and the abuse of power.

These are dynamics we still see today playing out in our personal relationships and in the greater world we live in.

Work Details

Year: 2021

Instrumentation: 2 Flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, timpani, percussion, harp, strings (10.8.6.4.2).

Duration: 13 min.

Difficulty: Advanced — Unusual figures, extended techniques, quarter tones in soloists parts

Contents note: 1. Before The Beginning -- 2. The Tree of Life.

Dedication note: Written for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Commission note: Commissioned for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc in regards to this work:
This work sonically describes the mists before creation and the universe during birth as the heavy wheels of the universe and fusion turn, explode, reattach and birth. Influences of mine that might be indicated in this work include Penderecki, Xenakis and perhaps Louis Andreissen, but would also draw upon Saariaho and Górecki's Symphony no. 3.