I saw the Mystery Man
(2019)
for symphony orchestra
Program notes
This piece was born out of my long-lasting fascination with the cinema of David Lynch and the dark surrealism present in most of his films. Experiencing these works for the first time was a revelatory experience to me – not only was I awe-struck with his technical mastery and innovative use of the means of the medium, I also discovered how deep, immersive and intense a cinematic experience could be. I was soon sucked into a twisted and mysterious universe unlike anything I had ever seen before, that managed to, at the same time, genuinely scare me and fascinate me in a way nothing else had done before. It was a relentless and exhilarating ride, and in its own strange way, intensely moving.
How could a cinematic experience be so radically unconventional and yet provoke such visceral emotions? And why, despite how disturbing I may find them, do I keep coming back to lose myself into these beautiful nightmares? The attempt to provide some sort of answer to these questions gave as a result this piece, whose title ‘I saw the Mystery Man’ references David Lynch’s masterpiece Lost Highway (1997).
Duration: c. 8'
Instrumentation
3 Flutes
3 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B-flat
Bass clarinet in B-flat
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in B-flat
2 Trombones
Bass trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 1: suspended cymbal (shared with P3), triangle, glockenspiel, woodblock
Percussion 2: snare drum, guiro
Percussion 3: 2 congas, suspended cymbal (shared with P1), shaker
Piano (with shaker)
Harp
1st and 2nd violins
Violas
Violoncellos
Double Basses
Performance
9.10.2019 – RNCM Concert Hall, Manchester (UK)
Performers: RNCM Brand New Orchestra, conducted by Riley Court-Wood