Description
This piece was commissioned by baritone soloist Amy Ewen in 2021. As ensemble playing was heavily restricted during the lockdown periods at the time of writing, the piece is scored using various delays, reverbs, and loopers in Ableton Live to create a full band sound from only the soloist’s audio. All sound heard is processed in real time during the performance; no pre-recorded material or multi-tracking is used. An arrangement for soloist and brass band is also available here
Premiered at RNCM Composers Concert 23rd March 2022, performed by Alex Barron.
Technical requirements –
– Left and right speakers to amplify the audio
& EITHER
– Ableton Live (minimum version Live 10 Intro)
– Microphone, ideally a clip-on condenser type (eg. Audio-technica Pro35, T.bone Lucan System)
– Interface with at least 2x pairs of stereo outs (eg. Focusrite Scarlett 4i4, SSL 2+)
OR
– Device connected to the speakers for the soloist to watch guide video and play along
(PS. If you’re local to the North of England and would like to borrow some tech for a performance please get in touch and I’d be happy to help)
Programme note –
People have a much closer relationship with their reflections now than they ever have before. We carry front-facing cameras at all times, while carefully curating our images for the rest of the world to see. The lockdown periods of 2020/21 really brought this to the fore, due to the overwhelming amount of time spent video conferencing for many. This obsession with image can often lead to a crisis of self-consciousness. Gallery View portrays an attempt to overcome this crisis, where a transformation in a way of thinking brings about a resolution at the end of the piece.
