Nowhere in Particular

This piece was commissioned by the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) as part of The ANAM Set (2021). It was written for Murray Kearney and given its world premiere on 4 December 2021 at the Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne. The ANAM Set was funded by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government Initiative.

Nowhere in Particular, scored for solo viola over an electronic soundscape, deals with themes of identity and environment. With a meandering, curious character, the viola traverses a foreign environment of strange bells, synthesizers and warped echoes, as if searching for a home in unfamiliar territory. The electronics create a warm bed of sound, though its gently pulsating harmony is unsettling in nature. Our soloist is never quite able to overcome their otherness and isolation from the environment, becoming increasingly agitated as time wears on. In the end, they abandon their soliloquy and are joined by an unexpected visitor. I chose the viola to work with on this project because I'm drawn to its dark, thick lower register and the quiet warmth of its higher range. It has the ability to express deeper, subtler shades of sound than its companions.

Instrumentation
Viola, electronics
*additional version available for violin and electronics

Year of Composition
2021

Duration
7 minutes

Commissioned by
Australian National Academy of Music as part of the ANAM Set

Premiere
Murray Kearney, 4 December 2021, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne.

Score
Available to hire via the Australian Music Centre.