Unity in Blue is an electroacoustic work for surround sound environment and an ensemble of 9 musicians. Its primary inspiration is from the painting ‘Blue Unity’ by the artist Godfrey Miller.
The work juxtaposes both the industrial and spacious elements of the painting in a sonic framework, drawing on many elements of the aural world to formulate textural depth. For instance, sounds are drawn from a sheet metal factory, an electric arc furnace, industrial tools, prepared piano, Native American flutes, synthesisers as well as acoustic instruments. All of these elements are tied together by a primary focus and context, the painting ‘Unity in Blue’. The music draws its structure directly from the painting, the seven industrial like structures in the painting forming the seven industrial sections within the music, along with the seven contrasting sections which are derived from the blue/green background of the painting.
Compositionally the piece draws on many musical movements under the broader umbrella of ‘Western Art Music’, for example, programmatic music, minimalism, electroacoustics, modernism and serialism. The painting itself being the inspiration for the music means that all these elements may be integrated into a unified whole, there is a raison d’etre for these elements to fuse, as the painting itself highlights with the concurrence of elements through sweeping structural gestures and a fusion of medium.
The work juxtaposes both the industrial and spacious elements of the painting in a sonic framework, drawing on many elements of the aural world to formulate textural depth. For instance, sounds are drawn from a sheet metal factory, an electric arc furnace, industrial tools, prepared piano, Native American flutes, synthesisers as well as acoustic instruments. All of these elements are tied together by a primary focus and context, the painting ‘Unity in Blue’. The music draws its structure directly from the painting, the seven industrial like structures in the painting forming the seven industrial sections within the music, along with the seven contrasting sections which are derived from the blue/green background of the painting.
Compositionally the piece draws on many musical movements under the broader umbrella of ‘Western Art Music’, for example, programmatic music, minimalism, electroacoustics, modernism and serialism. The painting itself being the inspiration for the music means that all these elements may be integrated into a unified whole, there is a raison d’etre for these elements to fuse, as the painting itself highlights with the concurrence of elements through sweeping structural gestures and a fusion of medium.
Unity in Blue Short Clip from Fiona Hill on Vimeo.
Performers:
Conductor - Robert Prero
Violin - Veronique Serret
Cello - Julie Cuneo
Flute - Christine Draeger
Clarinet - Jason Noble
Trumpet - Andrew Del Riccio
Bass Trombone - Chris Aschman
Countertenor - Timothy Chung
Percussion - Leigh Giles
Piano - Louise Welsh
Electronics - Fiona Hill
Audio Engineer - Geir Gunnarsson
Conductor - Robert Prero
Violin - Veronique Serret
Cello - Julie Cuneo
Flute - Christine Draeger
Clarinet - Jason Noble
Trumpet - Andrew Del Riccio
Bass Trombone - Chris Aschman
Countertenor - Timothy Chung
Percussion - Leigh Giles
Piano - Louise Welsh
Electronics - Fiona Hill
Audio Engineer - Geir Gunnarsson