First draft of 'directions please!' for string quartet, recorded by the RTE ConTempo Quartet in July 2018.

directions please! (string quartet)

‘blow’ is the result of hands-on collaboration between myself and the performer, and experimentation with the instrument myself. From this process, I discovered a particular response that occurs when water is placed into the water key of the contrabassoon, and this partnered with aluminium foil over the bell created the preparations which give the piece its timbral focus.

Attention is also given to sound emitting from different places on the instrument, with the instrument functioning as a filter for the human breath, responding to exactly HOW the player blows into a reedless crook, through various techniques, shapes and positions of the mouth.

Finally, close-up amplification with a 4-speaker setup transforms the sounds into an immersive audience experience.

The premiere was given by Edoardo Casali on October 25th, 2018, as part of a Kaija Saariaho festival at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK.

'blow' (prepared and amplified contrabassoon)

A journey between noise and pitch, dispersion vs. unity, delicacy vs. juvenility; individuality vs. collectiveness; relationships between entries of sounds; the acoustic environment and the experience of “silence”; a liberation and celebration of sounds that result from "poor quality" instruments and their “deficiencies”, a meditation destabilised by glitch; an invitation for anyone willing and able, regardless of musical training, to deeply explore the sonic potential of an object.

Performed by 17 Manchester-based performers at the Royal Northern College of Music on 05.05.2019. Recorded by Jack March, mixed by Cally Statham.

'playthings' (large toy instruments ensemble)

A half-length performance of 'playthings', originally for toy instruments, performed by the RNCM Brand New Orchestra in Manchester, 02.05.2019.

'playthings' for orchestra

The premiere of the original short version of 'deeply doppling', performed by Ensemble Mimitabu and participants of the Kalv Festival Academy, 2019. Performed here with 4 laptop operators and 4 bluetooth speaker operators.

'deeply doppling' (11 mins)

A single track, solo improvisation recorded from home (Salford, Manchester UK) during lockdown in April 2020. Various objects, instruments and voice, processed in Ableton.

scene changes /// solo improvisation /// april 2020

Today I followed in the footsteps of many Manchester artists, naturists, historians, etc. by visiting the urban wilderness that is Ponoma, near Salford Quays in Manchester. This was my second time visiting but first proper mindful exploration. What a weird and unique place - a cacophony of sounds that's quite rare around here. Particularly enjoyed how the birds and the crane from the scrapyard converse here.

Pomona, Manchester, 18/01/2021

I came across 2 guys feeding the birds on the Quays (which sounded amazing!) so started recording, and continued for about 8 mins :)

Swans, geese, gulls, ducks, dogs, humans and more @ Salford Quays (25/01/2021)

A walk under the low tram lines by Pomona Station featuring passing trams, birdsong, a delightful Irish dude and me chatting to myself, faffing about with the recorder and more. Enjoy!

Pomona walk under the lines (15/02/2021)

Exploring sound as composer and curator. MA in Composition from RNCM, Manchester (Larry Goves & Gary Carpenter); Artistic Director at Kinetic (www.kineticmanchester.co.uk).

Contact me at sdavies265@gmail.com.

Shaun Davies