We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Robert Scott Thompson - Haleness - Testament for Unity

from 2020 Vision by RadioSpiral Artists

/
  • Digital Track
    Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

    You own this

     

about

24/03/2020 - UK

In all honesty, I wrote this track and the accompanying explanation long before the Covid - 19 pandemic and playing it back today, it sounds both strange, beautiful, of wonder but also like a warning.

Somehow, today, it has taken on added significance.

We are all connected...more so now... in many more ways...both good and bad.

Let’s root for the good connections.

As I look out of the window at the grey pink hue of the sky, I think more than ever we need to keep being unified and connected well beyond our biological make-up.

Wishing you all well, whoever and wherever you are.
O x

Here’s my original explanation of the piece -

“ Create a track that represents to you a portrait of unity or connectedness…”

Hmmmm….What connects all living things on the planet?
Cells.

How about a track that is my interpretation of what is in all cells - DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic acid), the genetic code that determines all the characteristics of all living things on this planet?

DNA is a molecule composed of two chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

Firstly, I found a gif on Wikimedia showing the DNA double helix in motion. I composed this piece to roughly follow the moving image in tempo and also in a cyclical rotating soundscape. I decided to limit myself mainly to two notes for the basic keys of the piece and decided to create two long form drones in the keys of D and A to represent this.

The two long chains are interconnected by what looks like a ladder made up of repeating units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a sugar and a phosphate molecule, which make up the ‘backbone’ of DNA. As nucleotides are the building blocks of life, I have used staccato percussive and modular sounds to represent this. There is also a strange breathing sound and ticking like a clock, representing the passing of time and is rhythmic like a pendulum.

Each nucleotide is composed of one of four nitrogen-containing nucleobases, a sugar called deoxyribose, and a phosphate group.The bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T) and are in a specific order of A, G, C and T within a DNA molecule. These are unique to you and give you your characteristics. Here, I added more complex patterns and sounds and also chords to represent the increasing complexity of the DNA structure. I also added notes and chords in G and C to the D and A notes to represent the nucleobases - although there’s no T note : )

With the use of randomisation and fixed patterns throughout the piece, the overall effect I wanted to create, was the complexity of living things. We are all made up of DNA, so, 46 chromosomes equals a human being but a fruit fly has only 8.

However we are all connected by the wonder that is the genetic code.

Sometimes my ideas are quite a challenge.

Odette Johnson
Museleon
www.museleon.com

credits

from 2020 Vision, released March 29, 2020

license

tags

about

RadioSpiral Barnet, UK

RadioSpiral promotes captivating electronica 24/7 on radiospiral.net.

We promote tracks created specifically for programs on RadioSpiral, including tracks by RadioSpiral hosts and artists.

All purchases go to offset the cost of running the station. Please buy, download, and tell your friends!
... more

contact / help

Contact RadioSpiral

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account