You are in a darkened hall. The faint hum of a deep pulse envelops you. Eventually, swelling, contrasting pulses of percussion sounds join the throng. You then find yourself immersed in the blending sounds of the stars and percussive attacks. This is how Gérard Grisey's The Black of the Star (Le Noir de l'Étoile) begins. We’re delighted to bring this work to ANAM in August, as the percussionists of ANAM take you on an unparalleled auditory journey that bridges the terrestrial and the cosmic.
Composed between 1989 and 1990, The Black of the Star is a pioneering work in the realm of spectral music, a genre focusing on the acoustic properties of sound. Grisey, a French composer and a key figure in this movement, sought to base compositions on the spectral analysis of sounds, emphasising their harmonic series and timbral qualities. This piece, in particular, showcases his innovative approach by incorporating actual astrophysical phenomena – pulsar sounds – into the musical fabric. Sounds resonate around each other, pulse with tension and are refracted through rhythmic percussive textures.
Grisey drew inspiration from the mesmerising sounds of pulsars, which are highly magnetised, rotating neutron stars emitting beams of electromagnetic radiation. These stellar sounds, captured as rhythmic pulses, are seamlessly integrated into the piece, creating a unique exchange between cosmic and human-made rhythms. The recordings of the Vela and 0359+54 pulsars serve as both musical material and structural foundation, infusing the performance with an otherworldly aura. These recordings were captured by the Parkes Observatory.
This piece is composed for six percussionists, positioned around the audience to create an immersive surround-sound experience. You will be enveloped by sound from all angles; immersed in a swell of complexity and precision. The percussionists at ANAM will navigate intricate rhythms and textures, synchronising their live performance with the recorded pulsar sounds. This demands a high level of coordination and skill, promising an impressive display of musical virtuosity, alongside this unique auditory journey.
As we listen to this work, we are allowed a moment to contemplate the mysteries of the cosmos while being grounded in the physicality of the live performance. A melding of mystical and scientific songs of the universe with the immediacy of the clang of percussion. The human and cosmic combine.
The Black of the Star will be an event that will expand your auditory horizons and leave you with a glimpse into the intersection of science and art. Don't miss this chance to experience a work that is as intellectually stimulating as it is sonically mesmerising, playing for only two performances this August at the Abbotsford Convent.
THE BLACK OF THE STAR
Friday 30 August 7pm and Saturday 31 August 7pm
GRISEY Le Noir de L’Étoile
Peter Neville (Head of Percussion) director/percussion
Alexander Meagher (ANAM alum 2021) percussion
ANAM Percussionists
Venue Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent
Tickets from $20
Bookings anam.com.au or 03 9645 7911
Words by Evan Lawson
First published in volume 52 of Music Makers.