Programme Note:

A conversation between two individuals on completely different wavelengths.

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Performed by Open Union
Modular Synth: Peter Bell
Electric Guitar: Patrick Ellis

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Bio:

May Chi is a Hong Kong-born songwriter, composer and visual artist based in the East Midlands. Her compositional works delves into aspects of her personal life as well as her intrinsic connection with nature and saudade to create a cathartic musical experience. Influenced by electroacoustic and ambient music production techniques, she is interested in the exploration of the limitations of instruments and small ensembles to create and mould various sounds, timbres and ambiences. Her works have been performed by ensembles including Quatuor Bozzini, Fidelio Trio, Thallein Ensemble and Tresonant. She was also the commissioned composer for Pilot Theatre’s ‘Monoliths’ VR (2022), which has been selected for festivals including BFI London Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Re:Publica Berlin.

More info on May here: www.may-chi.com

May Chi - this is what it feels like talking to you (2022) - Live at Centrala, Birmingham

Another snippet from Caligo Paean - beware of gifts when chasing gods : ) 

Caligo Paean is a 1 hour long sound piece installed on river front property in the town of Franklin, Tasmania as part of the exhibition "When The Fog Clears". It formed part of the Ten Days on The Island Festival March 2025.
The work was installed in several locations across the property including a stack of subs under an old bus, in the main exhibition space and in an abandoned shed some 40 metres from the main area . The speakers were 'tuned' quite differently depending on their location and the sound was not delay corrected with the result of each mini-installation merging with each other in odd sonic ways - kind of calling the listener from one spot to another. The the work features field recordings, percussion, piano, bass guitar and Intonarumori as well as this special one off choir : )

Caligo is the Ancient goddess of Chaos. Born of the fog she controls the darkness, dwells in the void and is as old as the primordial matter that created the universe. This work is a tribute to the goddess as she continues to influence our lives and, in the case of this installation, the site and concept informing the show.

Official press release below for The Fog Clears

Every day, the mists of the Huon Valley perform a seductive dance, gently obscuring and revealing contours of the fertile land and waters. Situated in The Watershed Franklin, When The Fog Clears features six artists from lutruwita / Tasmania exploring the region’s iconic mists through a variety of mediums including installation, sculpture, illustration, sound, and video.

Developed exclusively for Franklin, this exhibit extends from the waterfront itself into the chambers, kilns, and rafters of the shed, inviting visitors to consider fog as an atmosphere that can cloak us in unexpected ways.



Caligo Paean (A gift, a choice)

I've flown in the air
I've sometimes even sailed the seas 
I've taken the railways
but I like to keep both feet on the ground

I've braved winters
and walked in the scorching heat
but that was yesterday
Today, what I prefer

is my home
the one I love
grabbing my guitar
and write songs
it's my home
doing what I love
and enjoying life
before it's too late
No, it's not too late

on the other side of the world
I've still had times when I've enjoyed myself
but there's nothing to do
Today, what I prefer

is my home
the one I love
grabbing my guitar
and write songs
it's my home

Jamais trop tard (Translated)

trio for trumpet, double bass and piano (composed in 2023)
performed by Damir Bačikin trumpet; Nadezda Tseluykina - piano; Matthias Bauer - doublebass.
Live recording of world premiere (final concert of Competition and Workshops "Jugend Komponiert" in Schlosstheater, Rheinsberg, 29.10.2023)

A Short Story

yada yada yada

yadayadayada

Grand Metamorphosis no. 30 "M" - Sequence 6 "Tables, graphs and notes" for piano solo (composed in 2024)
from cycle 'Grand Metamorphosis nos. 0-30'
Grand Metamorphosis no. 30 color is #DB3FB1 for every sequence (as represented on cover here)
Performed by composer - recorded in home studio

0:00 - A
2:00 - B 
2:55 - C
4:00 - D
4:08 - E
4:48 - G
6:25 - F (Harmony #1)
6:56 - H
8:08 - I
8:23 - L (Harmony #2)
8:48 - J
11:12 - M (Kammermusik #1)
15:33 - K
17:57 - N (Harmony #3)
18:23 - O
20:08 - P
21:02 - R
26:12 - S (Harmony #4)
26:58 - T (Canon)
28:28 - Q
29:00 - U
29:09 - V (Kammermusik #2)
36:51 - W
37:05 - X
37:18 - W (second time)
37:36 - Y (Harmony #5)
37:56 - Z

Grand Metamorphosis no. 30 "M" - Sequence 6 "Tables, graphs and notes"

Here's that rainy day - Jimmy Van Heusen

Oscillations
between musical banality and extremely complex polyphonies
between 'popism' and true minimalism
between hermeticity and 'humanity'
Music for twenty-first century.


Grand Metamorphosis no. 28l.2 "Musica Minima" for MIDI tape (composed in 2022-2025)
from cycle 'Grand Metamorphosis nos. 0-30'
Grand Metamorphosis no. 28l color is #DB3FB1 for every submovement (as represented on cover here)

Grand Metamorphosis no. 28l.2 "Musica Minima" exists in two versions - without interruptions, complete version and one divided in 4 one-hour parts.

Grand Metamorphosis no. 28l.2 "Musica Minima" - complete version

Concerto Grosso for Baroque Orchestra (2025) Nicolas Kingman

Open Union is an experimental music duo made up of composer-performers Peter Bell (modular synthesiser) and Patrick Ellis (electric guitar) based in Birmingham and London.

Described by the treasured composer Howard Skempton as being, ‘sometimes subtle and unstable; sometimes rich and dense’, the duo aims to build up strong collaborative relationships to create new verbal and text based works. Their current collaborators are Christine Cornwell, Wilson Leywantono, May Chi, Paolo Griffin and Seán Clancy.  

The duo have performed across the UK at events such as Ealing Extranormal, AMOK, Don't Mind Control, Birmingham Modular Organisation and CODA Festival. In 2025, they supported Passepartout Duo at Centrala Space, Birmingham as part of their UK Tour, and in 2023, undertook a mini tour of The Netherlands as part of the Sounding Here concert series, where they performed at Splendor in Amsterdam and Batavierhuis in Rotterdam.

In July 2025, they co-hosted a portrait concert with saxophonist David Zucchi featuring music by Paolo Griffin at the Hundred Years Gallery.