Homage to Maurice
Project Lead/Performer
Composer
Project Description
Homage to Maurice is a chamber opera for pianist/baritone with electronic sound. UNC faculty member Thomas Otten will perform a piece written by 2004 Guggenheim fellow Frances White. The text for the work is drawn from E.M. Forster’s novel Maurice, while the music references Maurice Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit.
The sonic landscape of the work comprises live pianistic and vocal performance, along with electronic music derived from recorded piano and natural sounds. Various sophisticated digital audio techniques are used to process these recordings, creating a multi-dimensional sonic space with which the performer interacts.
A unique aspect of this composition is its use of one soloist as pianist and singer, an innovative and exciting crossover element from the pop/jazz arena. By utilizing Dr. Otten’s past recordings of the Ravel as a source for the electronic track, a fascinating–and radical–unification is created: pianist, singer and electronic sound as an expression of “multiple selves,” intertwined with multiple dimensions of time (past and present performances occurring simultaneously).
This world premiere features the opening section of what is projected to be a multi-act work.
Ticketing information will be posted closer to the CHAT Festival.
