Boomerang Nebula

With a temperature of 272°C, just 1°C above absolute zero, Boomerang Nebula is
considered by astronomers to be the coldest place in the universe. Much of space is warmer, at roughly 270°C, due to cosmic microwave background radiation from the Big Bang. At the centre of Boomerang Nebula lies a star, a dying red giant, expelling a jet of gas cloud at a rate between ten to a hundred times faster than what a star normally produces on its own, thereby rapidly expanding the nebula and absorbing cosmic microwave background radiation in the process. These fascinating properties of Boomerang Nebula inspired me to ruminate on how one might conjure the sensation of extreme 'cold' through performance on a carillon.

This work sonically conveys the imagined voyage of an observer situated within the realms of Boomerang Nebula. The observer initially catapults between extremely cold (I. Freeze & III. Refreeze) and relatively warmer (II. Thaw) regions of space, and eventually approaches a jet of gas that expels it away from the Nebula with sustained and unimaginably great forces (IV. Exit).

This four-movement work was mostly composed in the cold dead of night, on an isolated and dysfunctional carillon, in fact the largest concert instrument in Australia. Some mourning was inevitable, and you will be able to hear this. On a brighter and more personal note, this music was the result of quiet meditation and self-exploration. Both visually and aurally, the score conveys my gratitude for the limitless opportunities to reflect on life and its 'setbacks'. The textures are sparse, not unlike the unusually rapid expansion of mass in the Nebula. From a listener's perspective, there may initially be a sense of confusion amidst the presentation of seemingly disjointed and unrelated rhythmic and melodic gestures. Yet, and hopefully by the end of the final movement, one may become aware of several common threads that tie the many 'elements' of this work together.