Lungs

In this work, I imagine the entire orchestra as a big pair of lungs. The music swells up and down as if inhaling and exhaling, as melodies intertwine and branch out like tree-like bronchi and bronchioles.

I used this piece as an opportunity to highlight a few of my favourite things that an orchestra can do. It is an exercise in compositional restraint and an exploration of a delicate yet vibrant colour palette. As a wind player and an occasional singer, breath is incredibly fundamental to how I intuit music, and I think that this translates into my string and percussion writing too.

It was a pleasure to write this piece as the first of three commissions in my role as Cybec Young Composer in Residence with the MSO in 2022.

Instrumentation
2.2(=C.A).2.2 - 2.2.2.0 - 2 perc. - pno. - hp. - strings

Year of Composition
2021

Duration
8 minutes

Commission
Commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Premiere
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey, 29 January 2022, Bunjil Place.

Score
Available to hire via the Australian Music Centre