Work
Cities of the mind : Cantata for soloists, choir, string quartet, double bass, percussion and keyboards
by Martin Friedel (2002)
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It is listed in our catalogue because an event featuring a performance of this work was included in our calendar of Australian music. Details of this performance are listed below.
Work Overview
Cities of the Mind is the third of my four 'science' cantatas. The text used are drawn and adapted from a wide variety of historical, mythical and scientific narratives, and have been distilled to a series of 'telling' fragments, about the conscious and unconscious mind and ancient obsession with a 'thinking machine' through the writings of Jung, Descartes, Turing, Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, Mary Shelly and Norbert Wiener and others..
The introduction to Cities of the Mind explores these themes and personalities in detail.
The structure of Cities of the Mind consists of three interwined cycles : Short operatic fragments for solo voices, based on historical and characters; choral pieces; and short instrumental interludes, musical reflections and meditations on mind, machine and consciousness.
Work Details
Year: 2002
Instrumentation: Soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass soloists, SATB choir, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, percussion, piano, harpsichord (optional), organ (optional).
Duration: 47 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Dedication note: Dedicated to Astra Chamber Music Society, John McCaughey
Commission note: Commissioned by Astra Chamber Music Society with funds provided by Ian Potter Cultural Trust.. The composition and first performance were supported by the Ian Potter Music Commissions.
First performance: by Astra Choir, Miwako Abe, Timothy Phillips, Kim Bastin, John McCaughey at Cities of the Mind (Fitzroy Town Hall) on 10 Oct 2010
Revised and extended in 2010
Winner of Inaugural Ian Potter Music Commissions
Subjects
- In the form/style of: Cantatas
Performances of this work
10 Oct 2010: at Cities of the Mind (Fitzroy Town Hall). Featuring Astra Choir, Miwako Abe, Timothy Phillips, Kim Bastin, John McCaughey.
19 May 02: Gasworks Theatre, Melbourne. Featuring Astra Chamber Music Society.
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