Afterimages [2019]

  • Xan Gill

for 8 players

Afterimages is a short work for chamber ensemble.

The title refers to a common optical phenomenon where an image can remain in view for a brief period after the stimulus is removed (for example, after looking at the sun). There are huge contrasts in the form afterimages can take, the most obvious being the results of brief exposure to a bright stimulus versus prolonged exposure to a coloured stimulus.

The piece grew from the idea of treating sound as light; I attempt to ‘sound’ flashes of white and slow burns of colour as pillars of the sonic landscape. The music flickers and fades, leaving traces of itself behind.

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Recorded in London, May 2019

Flute/Alto Flute, Bb Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Percussion (suspended cymbal, tom-tom, singing bowl, crotales), Harp, Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello.​

score here

www.xangillmusic.com

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