City Scape
Niibori orchestra (acoustic music by R Casteels) and electro-acoustic sounds (by Gao Yang) City Scape can be performed without conductor when players know the electro-acoustic part. The audience must be able to hear the three simultaneous layers: - the pre-recorded electro-acoustic sounds from front speakers, - five sound gestures performed by the guitarists, - the transformation in real time of the sounds produced by the guitarists from rear speakers.
Programme notes
City Scape captures the complex, oscillating emotions of approaching a metropolis at night. The work opens with a feeling of angst—depicting flickering lights, scurrying objects, and scintillating metallic sounds—before transitioning into a state of serendipity and serenity, embodied by tinkling geometry and the emergence of urban contours. The piece asks: Is this home?
This compelling composition is the result of a collaboration between Casteels (acoustic music) and Gao Yang (electro-acoustic elements). The composers deliberately afforded the performers, both the guitarists and the conductor, substantial creative freedom in shaping the sound gestures and pacing the work effectively. City Scape was premiered as part of the concert program, Asian Waves: The Changing Face of Asia.
Completion of the composition
7-II-2012
Recordings
2012 concert in link #1, audio in link #2, 2018 concert with Casteels playing the Sphere in link #3
Concrete Euphoria: The Peak, Hong Kong, by Mintio [2011], original photography (reproduced with the permission of the Gallery Give Art Space)
Duration:
4'
Composed In:
2012
Dedicated to:
Parts:
For score and parts, CD Singaporean original compositions for Niibori guitar orchestra (track 1), please email <rc@robertcasteels.com>
First performance:
11.03.12 National University of Singapore, University Cultural Centre Hall, Singapore
First performed by:
GENUS, conducted by R Casteels
Commissioned by:
Centre For the Arts, National University of Singapore for the NUS Arts Festival 2012
979-0-9016514-4-9
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