Work
At the Edge of Silence
for chamber quintet
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About
At the Edge of Silence was commissioned by Chamber Music New Zealand for performance by Stroma. The work was a finalist in the 2004 SOUNZ Contemporary Award. As the title suggests, the work hovers on the edge of audibility but it is also about memory – memories half forgotten – distorted over time. Part of the expression of this ‘distortion’ is invoked by the substantial use of quarter-tone inflections of melody and harmony.
At the edge of silence is in a single movement which is symmetrical around a musical quotation which drifts into the centre of the piece. Before and after this quotation the music unfolds around solo lines for each to the wind and string instruments in turn. The piano supplies echoes and resonances of the melodies and harmonies and also acts as a foil to the micron-tuning of the other instruments. The work was inspired by the virtuosity of the stroma ensemble.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by Chamber Music New Zealand for Stroma's tour in April-May 2004, with funding from Creative New Zealand
Performance history
02 Apr 2004: Performed by Stroma; Nelson School of Music
20 Jun 2006: Performed by Gageego! and conducted by Gunno Palmquist at the Goteborg Concert Hall in 2006, presented by the International Association of Music Information Centres.
18 Mar 2015: At The Edge of Silence | Horizont Musik-Kollektiv Launch Concert
Premiered by Stroma: Bridget Douglas (flute), Patrick Barry (clarinet), Vesa-Matti Leppanen (violin), Rowan Prior (cello), and Emma Sayers (piano), Hamish McKeich (conductor) in Wellington Town Hall