I’ve been working a lot in the last few years with electronic, loop-based pieces which explore overlapping phrases of different lengths etc.
This piece began with the intention of turning it into a fully electronic “groove” piece, but as I was writing the themes (using a generic midi piano sound) I started to wonder if this could in fact be a solo piece for piano.
I decided to call it Locked in Orbit, and I think of it as a “deep space” piece, with the overlapping phrases representing different slow-moving things in orbit (planets, meteors, what have you) which circle around a star in different lengths of time.
Also, the static/still quality of it in some way reflects my lockdown brain… the feeling that things are motionless and yet somehow still moving slowly around… something?
I composed this piece for the Halifax-based pianist, Jennifer King. I’ve been enjoying her series of moon-inspired recordings over the last few years, including her O Mistress Moon album.
I’m really happy that Jennifer not only liked the piece, but wanted to record it and release it as a single! It’s available on all the usual streaming platforms.
Here’s a preview link to it. I hope you’ll check out the full piece when you have time.