Hot Air
Jonty Harrison
Programme notes
One of the principal source sounds for this work — balloons from children’s parties — gave rise to a train of thought which, after linking ‘toy’ balloons to ‘hot air’ balloons, went on to draw in numerous other concepts of air (breath, utterance, natural phenomena) and heat (energy, action, danger).
As work on the sound material progressed, other notions of air became important
But beware
Hot Air was realized using the Groupe de recherches musicales’ (GRM) SYTER and GRM Tools systems for the development of sound materials and the later stages in the compositional process took place at the composer’s studio and in the Electroacoustic Music Studios of the University of Birmingham (UK). The work was first performed as part of the Son Mu concert series in the Salle Olivier Messiaen of the Maison de Radio France (Paris, France) on May 22, 1995. Hot Air was commissioned by the Groupe de recherches musicales (Ina-GRM). Thanks to Daniel Teruggi of the Ina-GRM for his help and patience.
Premiere
- May 22, 1995, Cycle acousmatique Son-Mu 95
: Concert, Salle Olivier Messiaen — Maison de Radio France, Paris (France)
Awards
- Honorable Mention, Computer Music, Prix Ars Electronica 1996, Linz (Austria)
- Composer(s): Jonty Harrison
- Year of composition: 1995
- Duration: 22:12
- Instrumentation: stereo fixed medium
- Publisher(s): Ymx média
- Commission: Ina-GRM
- ISRC: CAD509611670
