Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees (2023)

New large-scale concert work for sampled historical organs, Ableton Live 11, and ROLI keyboard

In 2021, I was commissioned by the pianist Zubin Kanga to create a new, large-scale concert work for sampled historical organs and ROLI keyboard, Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees. Created as part of Royal Holloway’s UKRI-funded research project ‘Cyborg Soloists’, the piece used the latest studio and performance technologies to augment the sound and capabilities of some of the world’s most significant historical organs. Most notably, Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees uses the ROLI Seaboard Rise 2 keyboard, a unique ‘4D’ instrument that allows Zubin to sculpt and transform the sound of the organs in live performance. Lasting more than seventy minutes, Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees is a monolithic work; sustained and immersive, layered, microtonal organ-drones shift and transform to create a rich and enveloping sensory experience. The work was premiered at The National Gallery in London in January 2024.

To make Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees, I visited and recorded several notable historical organs in the UK and Europe. These included the Van Straten Organ, a reconstruction of a late-Medieval Dutch organ (dating from 1479) held in the collection at Het Orgelpark, Amsterdam, as well as period instruments at St Cecelia’s Hall, University of Edinburgh (a 1765 Thomas Parker Enharmonic Organ and a Chamber Organ from c.1680), and the Wingfield Organ, a reconstructed English Tudor organ by the makers Goetz and Gwynn. In Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees, these sampled organs are performed simultaneously, using three keyboards; two MIDI keyboards and the ROLI Seaboard Rise 2. The work is in three parts: ‘Earth’, a densely layered opening; ‘Air’, a sensuous, microtonal middle section; and ‘Ocean’, in which layered organs pulse and undulate (audio excerpts, below). Engaging with modes of ritualised and communal listening, Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees is performed in the round, immersing audiences in 360-degree sound.

I’m enormously thankful to those who made this work possible: Bradford Cathedral, the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership, The National Trust, Het Orgelpark, ROLI, the Royal College of Organists, Royal Holloway University of London, Lord Sackville, the University of Edinburgh, the UKRI, and (of course) Zubin.

Some photographs from the premiere of Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees at The National Gallery in London on 19 January 2024. Photographs by Robin Clewley.

Concert film from the premiere of Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees at The National Gallery in London on 19 January 2024. Film by Intone Films. Audio recording by Nicholas Moroz.