The Green Brain Cycle
Michael Kieran Harvey’s ninety-two-minute multi-instrument solo cycle draws on Frank Herbert’s 1966 ecological novel The Green Brain, pairing intense keyboard writing with Arjun von Caemmerer’s concrete poetry and spoken passages.
The cycle takes its cue from Herbert’s futuristic novel, in which insect intelligence evolves into resistance against human damage to the biosphere.
Twenty movements for keyboards and piano, each named after a major insect genus, sit beside a series of concrete poems by Arjun von Caemmerer. Key passages from the book, spoken in a strange techno-insect voice, give listeners a narrative thread through Harvey’s dense, often discordant textures—quick gestures, sharp clangs and an odd mix of electronic colour that can suggest insect motion and debate.
Brigita Ozolins designed the set for the world premiere at Mona Foma in January 2018, working with Harvey and von Caemmerer: gold lettering of the poems on the walls, faux lawn, hundreds of small plastic insects, live plants and trees, shiny gold beanbags, and a giant green glowing orb suspended almost threateningly over the grand piano. Familiar, futuristic and otherworldly elements met in a dramatically lit jungle-like space that eased the audience into the performance.
The album also includes interviews with Harvey on composing the cycle and with von Caemmerer on the concrete poetry.
Reviews
This extraordinary album, recorded in a live performance of the work at MOFO in January 2018, is inspired by the science fiction novel, The Green Brain, by the American writer, Frank Herbert. What homage! The tracks are all so different and beautifully conceptualised. Mosquitoes is the final piece on the album. It is a blissful riot where ascending and descending scales, melodic motifs and sequences are the basis around which all parts gravitate. These develop at varying paces throughout on vastly different electronic instruments and some beautiful harmonic progressions are built into this layering. But often it is timbre that is used to convey the message. The piece is rhythmically complex and simply intoxicating in its complexity and the technical precision required to communicate it. It is the complex, diverse interweaving of parts evoking the intricate structure of organisms we are gradually annihilating that is the feature of these compositions. Given that it is a live recording, the quality is superb. Let’s hope for another performance at some time. I can’t wait to use this album in my teaching!
Harvey uses various keyboards. ... Harvey’s creative process is so packed with energy and surprises that the constructional steps and formats become backgrounded, intellectually satisfying as they may be. ... From the start, Harvey’s melange of sounds is close to overwhelming. ... The texture is multi-layered and multi-faceted ... technical wizardry of a high order ... Last of all, Mosquitos is yet another brilliant demonstration of Harvey’s unmistakable dexterity, a presto that never lets up, climaxing in a unison/octave flight that leaves you breathless through its sheer velocity. It’s a modern-day toccata in the truest sense of that term where the composer/performer takes you by the scruff of the neck and demands that you keep up with his mental and physical athleticism. It makes a celebratory end to this vital compendium which celebrates the smallest among us with a wide-ranging humanity.
Artists
Michael Kieran Harvey
Australian pianist and composer Dr Michael Kieran Harvey FAHA is among the foremost interpreters of contemporary piano music of his generation. A champion of Australian music, he regularly commissions new work and has performed with the country’s leading contemporary ensembles and orchestras.
Arjun von Caemmerer
Dr Arjun von Caemmerer is a Hobart-based general medical practitioner, Iyengar Yoga teacher and practitioner, and writer. In 1995, with Naomi Cameron, he established The Hobart School of Iyengar Yoga.
Audio previews
Tracks
- Ants Michael Kieran Harvey 7:19
- Cockroaches Michael Kieran Harvey 3:21
- Grasshoppers Michael Kieran Harvey 3:26
- Mantises Michael Kieran Harvey 3:08
- Scorpions Michael Kieran Harvey 5:21
- Beetles Michael Kieran Harvey 3:37
- Flies Michael Kieran Harvey 8:26
- Bees Michael Kieran Harvey 3:14
- Wasps Michael Kieran Harvey 2:18
- Butterflies Michael Kieran Harvey 3:17
- Moths Michael Kieran Harvey 9:34
- Spiders Michael Kieran Harvey 3:55
- Fleas Michael Kieran Harvey 3:43
- Ticks Michael Kieran Harvey 5:13
- Lice Michael Kieran Harvey 3:25
- Silverfish Michael Kieran Harvey 4:05
- Earwigs Michael Kieran Harvey 3:38
Disc 2
- Slaters Michael Kieran Harvey 5:31
- Aphids Michael Kieran Harvey 5:05
- Mosquitoes Michael Kieran Harvey 4:38
- Interview: Michael Kieran Harvey (Anonymous) 34:49
- Interview: Arjun von Caemmerer (Anonymous) 18:55
Performers
- Michael Kieran Harvey · all except disc 2 track 5
- Arjun von Caemmerer · voice · disc 1 tracks 1, 7, 11, 13–15; disc 2 tracks 2 and 5
Contributors
Concrete poetry
Arjun von Caemmerer
Dr Arjun von Caemmerer is a Hobart-based general medical practitioner, Iyengar Yoga teacher and practitioner, and writer. In 1995, with Naomi Cameron, he established The Hobart School of Iyengar Yoga.
Set design
Brigita Ozolins
Where to listen
The Green Brain Cycle is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
The Green Brain Cycle is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3434
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 145 minutes 58 seconds
- Contributor
- Ben Ross
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Editing Engineer
- Vaughan McAlley
- Mixing Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Mastering Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Credit
- Arjun von Caemmerer
Brigita Ozolins - Release date
- 1 Jul 2018
- Musical work
copyright - © 2018 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2018 Move Records
- Categories
- Classical, Keyboard, Spoken word
- Genres
- Experimental, Contemporary Classical, Spoken Word
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574343427
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