Output details

Fields of Darkness and Light

Violin and triggers. Duration 10:00

Fields of Darkness and Light is built upon a sequence of 13 chords. They provide the harmonic structure over which the violin presents a number of themes. There is no real-time transformation of the violin. Instead the 'tape part' is fractured into small segments that are triggered by a computer performer who can 'kill' these moments with additional triggers enabling the violinist to play his part exactly as he wishes, being reasonably free with tempi especially at phrase endings.

There are 102 triggers in the work: fragments may form a drone (which may comprise many layers) or a dialogue with the soloist. Either way, the piece presents more of an opportunity for the soloist and computer player to work as an ensemble.

Fields of Darkness and Light was commissioned by Darragh Morgan and is dedicated to him. It was composed between October 2009 and February 2010 and was first performed in Clothworkers

Centenary Hall, Leeds on the 28th April 2010.

Fields of Darkness and Light researches the practical problems of working with a fixed medium. It represents the start of research into the 'fractured acousmatic'; here by necessity as the performer and computer player must interact – notably coincide. Yet, at the same time the fixed part must take full advantage of being made 'out of real time' and not sound like a sequence of accompanimental triggers. This work built upon a technique used in 'Rococo Variations’ (2006) where note collections (fields) were synthesized (using a sampled violin) and then re-animated using convolution techniques. 13 chords were selected (the final chord resolving onto the initial chord transposed a minor 3rd) giving 52 chords in total. These were developed into sustained and articulated elements using a variety of spectral shaping techniques. The organisation of materials into fields enabled the violin and electronic parts to be written simultaneously. At all times, the work grew in 'fragments'. Finally with a fixed media part laid out in a DAW, elements were deconstructed, either vertically to allow for sequenced layering or with extensions (especially at the end of phrases, normally with reverberation) to allow for a limited degree of freedom for both the violin player and the accompanist. Fields of Darkness and Light has been commercially released and performed by Darragh Morgan. It was performed under the London Sinfonietta banner by Jennifer Stumm in October 2011 at King's Place, London. Jennifer then took the work to Mexico Visiones Sonoras Festival and the Internacional Cervantino Festival. Morgan revisited the work at 'Encounters', Birmingham, February 2013. The composer performed the work at iFIMPaC, Leeds, December, 2012. The work was awarded first prize in category B (music for compositions of autonomous art electro-acoustic music) of the Musica Nova contemporary music competition, Prague in November 2010.