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about
Prairie Winters, the latest offering from London-based Hungarian-American composer Ábel M.G.E., is a mesmerising and evocative work of electronic music. Created in collaboration with Dogstar Dance Theatre as the soundtrack to their dance-theatre work of the same name, the piece explores the shadow cast by heritage, familial love, and violence. At its heart is the central character’s struggle to accept her inherited culture, wealth, and trauma, and the music Ábel has written expertly underscores this emotional journey.
Ábel’s approach to material is informed by a range of creative influences, from film and theatre to digital sampling. In the process of creating Prairie Winters, he took two recordings of the traditional Irish folk tune The Rocky Road to Dublin and time-stretched them to between 16 and 81 times their original length. The resulting soundscape is both haunting and beautiful: prevailing monochrome timbres slowly blossom then withdraw, and despite constant sonic evolution there's a sense of perpetual stasis to the piece.
As with much of Ábel’s work, Prairie Winters is a collaborative effort, bringing together the talents of dancers, directors, and choreographers to create an immersive, multi-layered experience. Whether you’re a fan of electronic, experimental, or contemporary classical music, this soul-stirring composition is sure to captivate and inspire.
Immerse yourself in the rich sounds of Prairie Winters and experience the power of Ábel M.G.E.’s unique musical vision for yourself.
credits
released May 5, 2023
Composer: Ábel M.G.E.
Mastering: Giacomo Fargion
Ábel would like to thank the collaborative team:
Anna Dunlop
Bethanie Hayes
Aubrey Lavender
Anna Buckmaster
Annabel Knobbs
for working together and for the many invaluable discussions that led to the creation of Prairie Winters.
Artwork: Ábel M.G.E. & Mark Bowler
Prairie Winters features the following public domain samples:
1. Christoph Nolte - The Rocky Road / The Rocky Road To Dublin
[traditional, recording licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike]
access: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christ…ad_To_Dublin.ogg
2. On the rocky road to Dublin - Composer: Ellis R. Ephraim/Performers: Arthur Pryor's Band (recorded 23. May, 1906)
[Public domain: Library of Congress, National Jukebox]
access: www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-249163/
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