Mannion, Ruaidhri - Scáth

This interesting piece was premiered by Syzygy in 2014 at the Royal Academy of Arts as part of the 'Sensing Spaces: Architecture Reimagined' exhibition. Four soprano saxophones are offset against two tenors and the work involves substantial movement and co-ordination. The 7 minute work expands from a pitch centre, flickering into existence with difference tones colliding beautifully like particles flying down a dark tunnel. There is an almost electronic quality to parts of this piece. The sudden shifts in energy and the sinking amalgamation of lines is quite entrancing. The influence of IRCAM is very clear and the importance, indeed centrality of space in the performance of this work is evidence of Mannion's sophistication.