antidotes-red-earth


Antidotes: Red-earth is the first of a series of works for ancient instruments and electronics where the purpose of technology is to amplify the different historical dimensions of the instrument. I like to employ electronics to reveal and clarify the meaning of what is happening in the music and on the stage. In Red-earth, the sound of the trumpet is transformed to emphasise various different aspects: the primitive shout to exorcise the evil spirits, the accompaniment to ancient rites of passage for boys, martial rhythms and war calls, the virtuosity of the Baroque era.

Antidotes: Red-earth is dedicated to Gabriele Cassone, who commissioned the work and gave me invaluable advice in writing for the natural trumpet. Gabriele gave the first performance of the work at Milano Musica Festival in 1997.