Encounters is an 8-channel sound-surround piece based on speaking voices recorded in the North East of England
where Trevor Wishart was A.C.E.Composer-in-Residence from October 1st, 2006 to September 2009, based at the University of Durham.
The piece is constructed in 4 Acts of approximately 20 minutes each, combining portraits of individual speakers (accompanied by
sounds and imaginary instruments derived from the voices themselves) with computer animation of the entire community of voices -
speech that waltzes, speech that locks in harmony, clouds of speech that circle the audience, culminating with speech that transforms into song.
The piece was finally completed on January 1st 2011.
Oct 16, 2010 : Act 1 performed at the
CBSO Recital Hall, Birmingham as part of the States of Play Festival.
Oct 21, 2010 : Act 1 performed at the
Faculty of Music, Oxford University.
Apr 14, 2011 :
Act 1 presented by Folkmar Hein
in the Nocturne concert series in the Kunsthochschule für Medien, Köln,
(an invitation by Martin Rumori, with the support of Anthony Moore).
Oct 17, 2011 : Act 1
presented by Song Circus in the Bergen Kunsthall (alongside Anticredos).
Nov 3, 2011 : Act 1
presented at the Freiburg Musikhochschule.
Jan 20,2012 : Act 1
presented in the GRM concert series at MPAA Auditorium St Germain.