Breaking News

for symphony orchestra and synthetic voice (2011)

To some extent, the spirit of the times is revealed through current news.

The composition "Breaking News" for symphony orchestra and synthetic voice uses selected press headlines from the last year. The choice of messages and the processes to which the textual and musical matter were subjected can be understood as the composer's comment on the current reality.

“Man decapitates apparent stranger in Canary Island supermarket.”
“Brain chemical memory link found.”
“Super aggregation of humpback whales gorging on the large swarm of Antarctic krill.”
“Security forces kill four protesters in Yemen.”
“World financial crisis curtail search for extraterrestrial life.”

The piece was commissioned by the 54th "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music; it was created in the spring and summer of 2011.

Performance history:
PREMIERE: September 24, 2011; Piotr Sałajczyk (keyboard), National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Warsaw, Lucas Vis (conductor); Concert Hall of the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, 54th "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music

Recordings history:
April 4-5, 2012; Piotr Sałajczyk (keyboard), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paweł Przytocki (conductor); Concert Hall for them. K. Fitelberg, Katowice Cultural Center, Archival Recording for Polish Radio