Vortex
Denis Smalley
Programme notes
In memory of Tim Souster (1943-1994)
The title, Vortex, reflects a concern with motion, not necessarily literal spatial movement, but sound objects, textures, contours, and particles whose shapes and behaviour suggest analogies with motion both real and imaginary. Such relationships can be striking in acousmatic music, where the listener may often perceive sounds as physical entities moving in space. One almost sees the points and textures, the broad sweeps and curves, the dimensions and shapes of the sound structures. Large, rich, resonant attacking sound events provide the structural pillars of Vortex. Their impact and radiating energy signal climaxes, initiate changes of direction, and propel the music forwards.
[xi-19]
Vortex was realized between 1981 and ’82 in the Electroacoustic Music Studio of the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK), incorporating materials created using the Structured Sound Synthesis Project (SSSP) system of the Computer Systems Research Institute of the University of Toronto (Canada)
Premiere
- February 27, 1983, Electronic Music Now, The Round House, London (England, UK)
Awards
- Composer(s): Denis Smalley
- Year of composition: 1981-82
- Duration: 15:49
- Instrumentation: stereo fixed medium
- Publisher(s): Ymx média
- Commission: Tim Souster with support from the Arts Council of Great Britain
- ISRC: CAD502110014
