Ella Macens | The Space Between Stars for Symphony Orchestra

Описание: For my grandfather Artūrs, who passed away whilst this piece was being composed. Performed by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra | Conductor: Eduardo Diazmunoz.

When I began composing this work, I imagined the listener lying in an open field - the earth in total stillness. I imagined them gazing up at the night sky, watching as it glowed with millions of bright shining stars. I pondered the question, “what is the space between stars? Is this space empty? Is this space silent? Could this space be charged with the energy of those who are no longer with us?”. Through this piece I wanted to convey the energy and magic of our night sky, and explore the power that I believe it holds. I wanted to explore the delicate and graceful elements, such as the flickering lights, the beautiful tones and the soft smudge of a falling star, as well as the bold and triumphant concept of enormous constellations surrounding us.

The Space Between Stars is my second piece for symphony orchestra, and was originally composed for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s inaugural National Women Composers’ Development Program (2016-17). In October 2017 I had the opportunity to spend two days in Hobart with the TSO, workshopping my new ideas with the guidance of Australian composers Maria Grenfell and Matthew Hindson. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you stand in front of an orchestra and hear your music come to life for the first time, and for me this particular experience was simultaneously one of the most exhilarating yet overwhelming moments of my life as I relived the immediate grief surrounding the loss of my grandfather through the music.

To my grandfather Artūrs, may you rest peacefully among the stars.