Brennan, Patricia - Of The Near and Far CD
SKU
28-PYOC43.2
Modney - violin
Pala Garcia - violin
Kyle Armbrust - viola
Michael Nicolas - cello
Sylvie Courvoisier - piano
Miles Okazaki - guitar
Kim Cass - bass
John Hollenbeck - drums and percussion
Arktureye - electronics
Patricia Brennan - vibraphone with electronics, marimba
Eli Greenhoe - conductor
“I’ve always been captivated by the night sky, endlessly wondering about what lies beyond. Amidst the vast expanse of stars, there is a sense of balance and symmetry that fascinates me—an order within the chaos. The innate patterns of the constellations sparked my curiosity, prompting me to explore how these celestial forms might be translated musically.
In the summer of 2024, I developed a process that allowed me to collect pitch and numerical data from constellations. I overlaid the shapes of constellations onto a circle of fifths, intrigued by whether the symmetry of the constellations could translate into musical symmetry—whether harmonic or melodic. The circle of fifths is already a highly symmetrical structure that organizes pitches in a sequence. By mapping the constellations’ shapes onto this circle, I discovered new relationships between pitches, chords, and even key signatures. These relationships emerged purely from the constellations’ symmetry, not from traditional music theory.
The sonic palette for this record is inspired by my background in classical music and in new music, combined with the sonic possibilities of jazz rhythm section instruments. My musical education was shaped significantly by my roles in orchestras, percussion ensembles, and chamber music groups. My first professional job as a musician was as the timpanist for a state-funded orchestra in Mexico. This path led to other orchestral positions, eventually bringing me to the U.S.” - Patricia Brennan
- LabelPyroclastic
- UPC199350095870