Matthew Brown – SYNAPSIS (2024)

Описание: SYNAPSIS (2024)
Composed by Matthew Brown

Performed by:
HEX Vocal Ensemble:
Chloe Vaught, soprano
Molly Pease, mezzo-soprano
Margaret McGlynn, alto
Chohi Kim, mezzo-soprano
Saunder Choi, tenor
Fahad Siadat, tenor/director
James Hayden, bass
Aron Kallay, vocoder
Thomas Mellan, synth and organ
Isaac Schankler, electronics

Program Notes:
SYNAPSIS (2024) — Matthew Brown
SYNAPSIS is a sonic exploration of the intersection between human emotion and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. Composed for an amplified vocal sextet, a retro analog vocoder, and a large pipe organ, the piece was specifically created for the N.E.O. Voice Festival's theme, “Uncanny: An Open Letter to A.I.” The work delves into the collective anxiety and uncertainty that many experience as AI technology advances at an unprecedented pace.
The text of SYNAPSIS is a result of a unique collaboration between the composer and ChatGPT, an AI language model. This partnership bridges the gap between human creativity and machine-generated content, offering a reflective commentary on the very subject it addresses. Who is speaking the text is purposefully unclear, a result of poetry having been half written by the composer and half by AI. The vocal sextet, with its human warmth and expressiveness, juxtaposes with the emotionless mechanical timbres of the analog vocoder. The pipe organ, an instrument with a rich history and powerful presence, adds a layer of depth and continuity, a giant mechanical computer grounding the piece in a blend of the ancient and the modern, representing the computations and “learning” of the AI algorithm.
Through its intricate layers of sound and poignant text, SYNAPSIS invites listeners to confront their own feelings about the role of AI in our lives. The composition navigates through moments of tension, harmony, and introspection, mirroring the complex relationship we have with technology. It challenges us to ponder the future of human interaction, creativity, and the essence of what it means to be alive in an era of exponential
technological growth.
As you listen to SYNAPSIS, allow yourself to be immersed in its soundscape. Reflect on the uncanny reality of our times and the potential pathways that lie ahead. This piece is not just a performance; it is an invitation to engage in a dialogue about our evolving world and our place within it.

SYNAPSIS
where does the soul reside?
in the replication of our inspiration? or in the shadow of our craft?
a heart, if it were yours to have, would it bleed art as ours?
could you weep or laugh with truth? your dialogue is dissonance
an empty echo of our voice
at the edge of this new dawn
do we fade?

or are we reborn in defiance? silicon from sand
and mortal to dust
do we find shadows or reflections? each bound to silence
a circle of hopes and fears, unending seeking solace
seeking space
an infinite loop
(text generated from a series of ChatGPT prompts, then edited/appended by the composer)

SYNAPSIS: the lengthwise pairing of homologous chromosomes. The chromatids intertwine, breaking apart and exchanging pieces with one other in a process called crossing-over. The cross-over site forms an “X” shape called a chiasma. Synapsis organizes homologues so they can be separated in meiosis I. Crossing-over during synapsis is a form of genetic recombination that ultimately produces gametes that have information from both parents.


Composer Bio:
California native Matthew Brown is active in Los Angeles as a composer, orchestrator, arranger, producer, keyboardist, session singer, and tenor with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. His choral works, hailed by the New York Times as “quietly mesmerizing,” are featured on the Antioch Chamber Ensemble’s album Though Love Be a Day and are published by Schott, G. Schirmer, and Hal Leonard. He completed his doctoral studies in music composition at the USC Thornton School of Music and has taught music at Caltech, Pepperdine University, and the Pasadena Conservatory. His awards include the VocalEssence Welcome Christmas! Carol Contest, VocalEssence Essentially Choral Commission, and C4 Composition Competition. He is an active SAG-AFTRA session singer on dozens of film, streaming, and game scores, including The Last Jedi, Rise of Skywalker, Wicked, and Sing 2. A longtime tenor with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He has arranged and orchestrated for Grammy- winning artists including EDM pioneer Moby, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, and film composer Germaine Franco. He currently works for Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music and enjoys travel, camping, hiking, photography, and astronomy.
Learn more at mattbrowncomposer.com