PROGRAM NOTES A performance for three pianos - 2 grand pianos, one old upright. Four pianists and one percussionist with a range of construction tools. The deconstruction of the old upright is central to the performance. This piece is an exploration in how something which may appear fragile can -- through its resolve, its fixed purpose -- have the ability to adapt from the destructive forces imposed upon it. The environment's fragility is always exposed but its timelessness and resolve demonstrate this ability to transform, adapt, continue and reclaim. |
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The sea appears calm and fragile in one instant, violent and destructive the next. Its environment threatened yet conversely threatening. Forces from outside intrude, impose and take advantage of the sea, appearing at times dominant but never breaking its resolve. At any moment the sea takes the dominant role imposing and destroying the intruder. However, this in turn can be detrimental to its environment and bring about the need for change.
Transition is also important, as it is through transition that the resolve can be determined. At the time of writing this piece the cargo ship 'Rena' became stranded off the coast of Tauranga, threatening the fragility of the environment. The environment which had played a part in stranding this man-made intruder would now be vulnerable to the impact of that stranding, and so changed. Yet through its resolve and transition this environment will face a longer continuum than the slowly disintegrating cargo ship Rena.
Blue Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, Dead Sea was written and developed intuitively as a response to this idea of fragility, resolve and environment.
Transition is also important, as it is through transition that the resolve can be determined. At the time of writing this piece the cargo ship 'Rena' became stranded off the coast of Tauranga, threatening the fragility of the environment. The environment which had played a part in stranding this man-made intruder would now be vulnerable to the impact of that stranding, and so changed. Yet through its resolve and transition this environment will face a longer continuum than the slowly disintegrating cargo ship Rena.
Blue Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, Dead Sea was written and developed intuitively as a response to this idea of fragility, resolve and environment.
Extracts from the score.
Shows selected pages of the score performed in the video. Includes layout and instruments tools required to prepare and deconstruct piano. |
Andrew is currently revising the score for future performances.