Output details

Koorean Air ( for violin and computer)

Koorean Air (2010) for solo violin and electronic expression. Duration: 8:28

Commissioned by virtuoso violinist Darragh Morgan.

Premiere by Darragh Morgan, Oct 2010, Walter Carrol Series, Martin Harris Centre, Manchester. Subsequent performances: ICMC 2011, Huddersfield; de Montfort University, Leicester, UK (March 2011); Ulrichsberger Kaleidphon Festival 2011, Austria; Push Festival, Gävle, Sweden (performed by Karin Hellqvist); Fylkingen, Stockholm (performed by Karin Hellqvist). UNYAZI, Durban South Africa, 12 Sept 2012 de Montfort; BEAST Encounters weekend,12 Feb 2013.

Koorean Air is a collaboration with virtuoso violinist Darragh Morgan. The nature of the methodology employed in the compositional process involves the utilization of ‘aural scores’ during the collection of violin source recordings, in order to explore the performer’s aural and muscular memory and musical gesture. I have refined this technique after composing a number of works for virtuoso performers; e.g. Esther Lamneck, Elisabeth McNutt, Kontakte Grup de Percussio, Miquel Bernat, Horacio Franco and Darragh Morgan. By challenging their aural thinking throughout the compositional process I am able to combine methods involving aural stimuli (of the performer) with intuitive aural scanning (primacy of my ears to select them, manipulate and organize sound). Koorean Air also takes materials to the extreme by employing a process of electronic ‘de-hyper-instrumentalisation’, and by restricting the use of the electronics to roles within the natural force and idiom of the instrument. This technique provides audiences with the opportunity to experience the instrument/electronic counterpoint as a straight dialogue between the violin and its true mirror, which is the performer's fingerprint.