[shell] was written for a celebration concert to mark the departure of Laura Tunbridge from the music department at the University of Manchester in 2014. Using only the phonetic material derived from Tunbridge's name, this short work superimposed various vocal behaviours (vowel sound, consonant articulations, vocal fry, etc.) into a stuttering/quivering hybrid. Using only a single tone, pitch is gradually removed and at that remains by the end is an articulative guttural shell.

In this recording, [shell] is wonderfully performed by soprano and composer, Nina Whiteman

[shell] (2014, for solo unspecified voice)

Matthew Sergeant’s music currently explores ideas surrounding identity and hybridity, space and place. It is frequently performed throughout the world by acclaimed ensembles, including BCMG, Divertimento Ensemble, ELISION, EXAUDI and the Nieuw Ensemble, and regularly featuring at international festivals, including Festival Musica (France), HCMF (UK) and Sydney International Festival (Australia). @matthewsergeant