Necromancer by Ian Wilson
New Digital Album out Thursday 27th August on Farpoint Recordings
Irish composer Ian Wilson’s ‘Necromancer’ is a large-scale work for double bass, flute(s), clarinet(s) and percussion, inspired by the photographs of Japanese photojournalist Akihiko Okamura, who documented everyday life in Northern Ireland during the Troubles after settling in Ireland in the late 1960s.
Conceived as a kind of musical “exorcism”, the work explores the emotional energy contained within Okamura’s images. Through sound, gesture and physical energy, Wilson seeks to confront and release their capacity to shock and provoke, transforming the experience of the photographs rather than simply reproducing it.
The music unfolds through a sequence of contrasting tableaux, from the eerie stillness of ‘Still life with milk bottles’ and the violence of ‘Bonfire, Milk bottle molotovs’ and ‘Riot Squad(s’) to quieter episodes including ‘Waiting’ and ‘Snow falling on a railway platform’, concluding with ‘What price peace?’
The world premiere recording features Dario Calderone, Lina Andonovska, Cathal Roche and Alex Petcu. Recorded at The Meadow in County Wicklow, the album is released by Farpoint Recordings. A CD version of the album will be available soon.