Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

The essence of this piece stems from the notion of borrowed memories and borrowed emotions. Experiencing another's narrative so intently that you too feel a sense of ownership and nostalgia for their recollection. You are encapsulated with the richness and wonderment of someone else's memory and are consumed by it.

Similarly, this sense of borrowed nostalgia evokes a sense of frustration and jealousy. You will never experience an intensity of emotion so strongly as the original owner of this memory. You are left instead to your imagination, and long to feel such vibrance and warmth in your own human experience.

Musically, this piece can be divided into three sections. The beginning section centres around a perpetual piano ostinato which rambles and develops unpredictably. In time, the sense of drive and persistence prompted by the piano line unravels and slows to a moment of stillness and reflection. This moment is a warm glow, a moment where the music focuses perhaps more on texture than harmony. The third section is playful and sprightly. Each instrument initially locks into place through various rhythmic ostinati before breaking loose to explore other threads.

Work Details

Year: 2022

Instrumentation: Clarinet, piano, violin, viola, cello

Duration: 11 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Commission note: Commissioned by Omega Ensemble.

First performance: by Omega Ensemble at New Now (Sydney Opera House, Utzon Room) on 3 Nov 2022