Silva Screen Records releases Nainita Desai's original soundtrack album for  artist Bruce Munro's art installation Tessellation - Fiber Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO) - an abstract large scale outdoor installation of an entirely light-responsive orchestra...

It's unusual for music from an art installation to be made available for commercial purchase. But, I for one, am so glad that Silva Screen Records invested time and effort in bringing this to market for a larger audience.

The album consists of 9 tracks (31 min, 31 sec) of music that could easily be released as a traditional classical symphonic music album.

Describing the art installation, artist Bruce Munro says: "In this installation, eighty, two-metre high, five-metre diameter light installations, each being a 'musician,' will form the physical plan of an orchestra. Each musician is represented by the iconic Hills Hoist rotary washing line, an everyday Australian object that is also a beautiful structural support to my mind. Cylindrical arrays of fibre optic cables will encircle each Hills Hoist, making it a column of light. A control system will scroll through a rainbow of colours synchronised with a symphonic soundtrack. As the fibre optic columns change hues, viewers will experience sound translated into colour."

It's quite clear that the music is not only an integral part of the experience, but also that it is the heart and soul of the piece. It's hearth wrenchingly melancholic and certainly tugs at the heartstrings.

Composer Nainita Desai says: "Using the symphonic orchestra including organic and electronic musical sounds, I wanted to take the listener on an exhilarating, emotional journey through nine musical pieces. While composing, in my mind’s eye I would think of the visual layout; how all the colours and rhythms would interweave with one another. I would think of the patterns and shapes the installation would create with the emotional connection; from dense and rich, vibrant and colourful, to gentle and calming. The ebb and flow of the work would take you on a rollercoaster of building tension to a soft release of emotion.”. Bruce’s only requirement was that I should make full use of the symphonic orchestra, and that the piece should start and end with the orchestra tuning up. It was recorded in Vienna Synchron Stage and hand-picked soloists. Tessellation is my ‘breaking-out-of-my-shell’ work; a voyage of musical self discovery. Having studied mathematics at degree level, I have always been intrigued by the relationship between music, mathematics and patterns in nature."

A beautiful collection of emotive themes which are subtly layered to deliver an enriching experience.

9

Darren Rea