Objects at an Exhibition Exploring Science Inspiring Music Collon - Nmcd215 - Contemporary

Each composer had free rein to pick an exhibit. Thea Musgrave was attracted to the impressive Energy Hall with its C18th-C19th steam engines; the result is a playful work for woodwind, brass and strings that conveys the inner workings of the vast machines. Christopher Mayo's piece for cello, double bass and four samplers is inspired by a slate statue of RJ Mitchell (the designer of the Spitfi re) in the Flight Gallery. Samples of aeroplane engines grow from distant drone to cachophonous noise. The enormous but 'melancholic' quality of 2LO (the first BBC transmitter) was what first caught Claudia Molitor's eye, and after doing some research she discovered that initially the transmission of music was prohibited and only speech was deemed acceptable. She uses BBC Sound Archive recordings from 2LO broadcasts in her piece. David Sawer's work, with percussion-like strings, woodwind and flugel horn, conjures up vivid images of the 1830 York Mail Coach (displayed in the 'Making the Modern World' gallery) speeding through the streets. Gerald Barry chose an artifi cial arm with fi ngers stretched to play only octaves as inspiration – the prosthetic limb belonged to an unidentifi ed female pianist and Barry's haunting, hypnotic composition continually repeats a two-note phrase which gradually evolves into octaves. The graphic score hand-drawn and partially coloured by Barry Guy is a work of art in itself. Charles Babbage's Difference Engine and his drawings infl uenced Guy's piece which unsurprisingly, for a composer/bassist who has worked in free improv groups with Derek Bailey and Evan Parker, calls for spontaneity and improvisation from the 13 musicians of the Aurora Orchestra.