'The Acrobat and the Tightrope'

2018

Performed at Amsterdam Composers Festival.

Finalist in the 2018 Kaleidoscope Orchestra Composers Competition (chosen from over 2200 entries from 76 countries).

Conducted by Nicolo Foron

Performed by Score Collective

The inspiration for this piece comes from many places; the chief originator being the TV show 'Stranger Things'. In this show a teacher explains the concept of parallel universes (or string theory) through an analogy of an acrobat (and a flea) on a tightrope. This, in the show, is also an analogy for depressive states.

The first movement of the piece uses the idea of a person maintaining balance, through forward momentum and a singular, narrow focus on what is straight ahead.

In the second movement the protagonist falls from the tightrope and moves through various 'moods' or shades of experience.

The third movement sees the protagonist journey back to the tightrope and the resumption of stability, balance and momentum.

The piece explores the idea of a 'timbrel' theme. This is sown throughout the piece but takes particular prominence in the second movement whereby three sound worlds, created firstly of wood, then metal, then resonance are presented in turn. The third movement then orchestrates these sound-worlds, filling in the timbres with harmony, melody etc. This reflects the protagonists gradual return from the depressive state of the second movement.