Returning Home - After Kurtag 2025
A piece for organ, with three cycles, each subsequent one slowed down so that all share the same duration to counter diminishing material. Performed on May 10th 2025 on the organ at All Saints, Clifton, Bristol beautifully by Huw Morgan as part of his Mainly 'Slow Organ Music' series.
Vexations Reimagined 2020
(15 minutes)
A response to Kathy Hinde's Vexing Responses (alongside her Vexations Livestream), I reimagined Erik Satie's piece as if all 840 cycles are played (almost) simultaneously. Featuring Kathy Hinde playing the piano.
When You Wish............ 2020
When You Wish..... was initially live streamed and presented as an opportunity to watch the Full Moon in conjunction with Jupiter and Saturn accompanied by the piece. When You Wish was made during the Covid 19 Lockdown with an invitation to people to send recordings of sounds that were meaningful to them during this time of isolation.
This is the original invitation that I made................
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When You Wish…………..
I have asked people to send me long single notes, drones or recordings of found sounds that are long single or repetitive sounds.
These sounds will be collected and arranged to re-construct ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ ,from the soundtrack of the film, Pinocchio. I have slowed this piece down so that it lasts 57 minutes; this will allow me to organize these long notes. The piece will subsequently be sped back up to become a collection of many peoples’ contributions.
I would like these sounds to reflect your sense of belonging and community at this time (during Lockdown). This might be reflected in how you play/sing the note or perhaps the source of any recorded found sound hold these connotations for you. I would like to present the work alongside a photograph of yourself along with a short sentence saying how these sounds reflect your feelings.
If you are local (Bristol), I can come and record your sound(s) from a safe distance (outside), just get in touch and let me know.
You can send your recordings by We Transfer to rich@chasingshadows.org.uk and e-mail me with your comments and photographs or to let me know that you would like me to come and record you. Please, if possible, indicate what is the pitch of the sound you have sent.
Many thanks, Richard Hughes
Tidal Iterations 2019
(24 minutes)
These pieces were written in relation to the esturine movements and rhythms. Ideas of reiteration and superimposition are explored using a single melodic motif and placing it in different relationships in terms of pitch and time to reflect the changes in flow, direction and height in regards to the tides.
Initially written as a string quartet, then for clarinet, piano and cello (Plus/Minus) and for medium sized ensemble.
Tidal Iteration 2 was performed on 6th June 2019 by Plus Minus Ensemble in a workshop at Bath Spa University.
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Mark Knoop - piano
Alice Purton - cello
Vicky Wright - clarinet
Tidal Iteration 2 Score
Drift 2018
(7 minutes)
Drift was written using material representing tide cycles from tide charts for the Severn estuary. This material was juxtaposed against a musical representation of 24 hour time to highlight the pulsing nature of the tidal cycles. This material was performed by Trio Atem at Bath Spa University.