contemporary music

Benedict Mason

Room Purcell, Fantazia for five viols. 1995

Part installation, part performance, this piece is, of course, an abstraction from Purcell, but has little to do with Scelsi or Cage or even La Monte Young. There is nothing humorous about this piece: it is done with serious intent. At the end of the piece the players exit and the stage is immediately set for the next piece: no applause/acknowledgement/composer bows etc.

Commissioned by The South Bank Centre. First performed 7th March 1995, The Purcell Room, London.

(Not published.)