Text adapted by the composer from the Twitterbot ‘Newfound Planets’ (@I_Find_Planets)
I_Find_Planets is an automated Twitterbot that, every hour of every day, announces the discovery of an imaginary planet. It will continue combining the vast number of variant statements about these new planets every hour until the end of time, or the end of Twitter (whichever comes first). The inventive but matter-of-fact descriptions make these planets sound strange, poetic and alluring.
This piece sets to music some selected descriptions of new planets. It is worth listening to their descriptions – if our planet is not well, we may one day soon need to live on one of these planets.
Instrumentation:
soprano, bass clarinet, harp (+pitch pipe) & double bass (+pitch pipe)
Duration:
6 mins
Commission:
Commissioned by The Hermes Experiment
Performances:
28 Sep 2022
The Hermes Experiment
St John’s Smith Square, London, UK
26 Jun 2022
The Hermes Experiment
Aldeburgh Festival, Jubilee Hall, Suffolk, UK
20 Feb 2022
The Hermes Experiment
Blackheath Halls, London, UK
19 Oct 2021
The Hermes Experiment
Oxford Lieder Festival, Jacqueline du Pré Building, Oxford, UK
26 Sep 2021
The Hermes Experiment
King’s Place, London, UK
World premiere