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GALAXIES

from SPIRIT COUNSEL by Thurston Moore

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Galaxies
(section B : "Sky")
for 12X12-string electric guitars

On 14 April, 2018 I presented, at the Barbican Centre Hall, a composition entitled Galaxies. It was divided into two sections, the first being Earth for twelve 12-string acoustic guitars, the second being Sky for twelve 12-string electric guitars.
The title Galaxies was initially inspired by a viewing of the 1966 Gregory J. Markopoulos film Galaxie where the camera silently gazes upon the faces of the constellation which was, at the time, the visionary community of New York City's art, poetry and music nexus: Susan Sontag, Amy Taubin, Allen Ginsberg, Jasper Johns, Shirley Clarke, Jonas Mekas, Paul Thek and many others.
With shifting colors and seemingly improvised gestures the visual narrative is in exaltation to these beings as enchanted urban angels.
While considering the composition for the Barbican I found myself in rumination to the poem The Satellites Are Spinning by another, very evocative, creative personage, the composer and cosmologist Sun Ra, where he writes "The satellites are spinning, a new day is dawning. The galaxies are waiting for planet Earth’s awakening. Oh we sing this song to a brave tomorrow. Oh we sing this song to abolish sorrow."
With these signifiers I realized Galaxies, with program notes stating "the acoustic section Earth investigates the sentient structure of the instrument as sonic tooth. Contemplations of tree communication and the dignity of animal wildlife come into play through percussive and resonant action in service to the song. The second section Sky features an offering of sound stars to immeasurable heavens in noise meditation to endless life, faith in mystery and the pleasures of community."

The recording of Sky, the second section for twelve electric guitars, is simply sourced from two ambient microphones in the hall. While the acoustic section, not heard here, was primarily modal and concerned itself with the instrument's inherent resonances, this electric section is more involved with extreme, harsh and noise-centric delights. It focuses on exacting both conducted and, within the framework of the score, improvisatory sounds where the strings are prepared utilizing implements of wood and two variants of metal files, before moving through a score of chording and sectional interplay. Both sets of music were accompanied with films directed in real time by the poet and filmmaker Radieux Radio and her indelible light of love.

credits

from SPIRIT COUNSEL, released January 6, 2021
Recorded at the Barbican on April 14, 2018 in London

Guitarists: Thurston Moore, Rachel Aggs, Jen Chochinov (Schande), Joseph Coward, Eugene Coyne, Jonah Falco, Deb Googe, James McCartney, Alex Ward, James Sedwards, Susan Stenger, and David Toop

Guitar Technicians: Matt Tagliaferro and Beetmol Troy

Production Assistant: Abigail Banks

Mastered by Lasse Marhaug

Grateful Acknowledgement to Chris Sharp at the Barbican, filmmaker Radieux Radio

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Thurston Moore London, UK

thurston moore born 25 july 1958 coral gables florida usa, teenage years bethel connecticut then nyc 1977, joins The Coachmen plays cbgb, max's + downtown art-rock dwellings,sonic youth 1980-2014, then chelsea light moving, immigrates to great smoke, foreva love, solo group action, further free scenes, ecstatic peace library, daydream library, animal liberation ... more

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