This week, we went to Trinity Buoy Wharf to experience Jem Finer’s Longplayer, a long-duration composition that began on 1st January 2000 and is designed to play continuously for 1,000 years.
One thing I found really interesting is how Longplayer is based on six algorithms that guide its progression, ensuring the music keeps changing but never repeats. After 1,000 years, it returns to the beginning, much like a system of planets that align only once every 1,000 years.
I also liked the use of singing bowls in the piece. In many Eastern cultures, singing bowls are often used in meditation because their frequencies are known to evoke a deep sense of calm. While listening to the sound of the bowls in Longplayer, I felt that their resonance was really peaceful. I don’t think their sound will ever go out of style because it’s timeless and always makes people feel relaxed.
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