Commissioned by the Zephyr Quartet, Spider is based on a poem of the same title by Iranian-Australian poet Granaz Moussavi. It describes the plight of an Iranian woman, held hostage by the authorities, who is asked to confess to crimes she did not commit. The term ‘Spider’ refers both to a chapter of the Qur'an as well as to the culture of anti-intellectuism prescribed by the Iranian authorities.
The woman claims “I must write”, as a rebellion against the authorities as she attempts to break free.
The piece includes text from the poem (read by the poet) in both English and Arabic. Compositionally Spider evokes qualities of both the Australian and Iranian desert and the struggle for life, liberty and freedom.
The Zephyr Quartet originally commissioned Spider for their WIRED project in 2006. The project has gained publicity through the Arts Sunday programme on ABC television and the Australasian Computer Music Conference 2008.
The woman claims “I must write”, as a rebellion against the authorities as she attempts to break free.
The piece includes text from the poem (read by the poet) in both English and Arabic. Compositionally Spider evokes qualities of both the Australian and Iranian desert and the struggle for life, liberty and freedom.
The Zephyr Quartet originally commissioned Spider for their WIRED project in 2006. The project has gained publicity through the Arts Sunday programme on ABC television and the Australasian Computer Music Conference 2008.