Jonathan Harvey

Speakings

Speakings for orchestra and electronics is undoubtably one of Jonathan Harvey's most important and ambitious works. Composed in 2008, it utilises a unique process of electronic transformation developed at IRCAM to explore the possibility that an orchestra could be made to 'speak'. Winner of the prestigious Monaco Prize, the 25-minute work belongs to a fascinating clutch of works composed around the time of Harvey's final opera, Wagner Dream, which contain musical allusions to Wagner, in this case Parsifal. Unfolding over three continuous movements, the music moves from the babbling of a baby and the frenetic chatter of human life in all its expressions, to music of unity, a hymn which is close to Gregorian chant in which, in Harvey's words 'the paradise of the sounding temple is imagined'. Typeset, and with input from Gilbert Nouno who collaborated with Harvey on the electronic element, this longawaited new edition makes this stunning piece even more accessible to conductors and enthusiasts.

Instrumentation: 3(solo fl=picc+afl+bfl, I=afl+picc, II=picc).3(solo ob=ca).3(II=Ebcl).2(II=cbsn) – 4.3(III=ptpt ad lib).3(III=btrbn).1 – perc(4): solo player: t.bells/timpano/tam-t/hi-hat.cym/small tgl/2 tpl.bl/wdbl/mcas/guero/high sandblocks I: crot/cym/small bongo/5 wdbl/cuica or talking drum/lower sandblocks II: gong in A/2 tam-t/small cym/guero/flexatone III: BD/5 c.bell/5 tpl.bl/2 temple bowls/cabaca – harp – pno/cel/electronic keyboard – strings(14.12.10.8.6) + solo string quartet (solo ensemble) SOLO ENSEMBLE (included above): fl(=picc+afl).ob(=ca).cl – trbn – perc (7 or 8 mics -> downix to 1) – harp – pno – string quartet ELECTRONIC REQUIREMENTS: The Solo Ensemble have special close mics. They are seated at the front, except for the solo percussion, harp and piano.11 live input instruments (close miking – clip-on mics) on the 11 solo instruments listed above. One stereo mix of the orchestra (mics from the radio – or others Loudspeaker setup: 6 or 8 depending on the hall/ Mixing desk: DM2000 if possible 2 laptops (Macs) 2 audio interface (RME 400, 13 adat input) 2 lemur Jazzmutant graphic interfaces (one for backup)