The universe can be thought of as a great big void, filled with a vast number of balls of burning gas. Most of it is nothing but empty space. It is cold, dark, and isolating. It is full of mysteries, unknowns, and even destructive forces such as supermassive blackholes. It tends towards chaos. However, the universe is also paradoxically filled with light. Clusters of stars form vast galaxies, with these galaxies themselves forming clusters and superclusters. Stars form systems, with various planets orbiting them, these planets form their own smaller systems with moons and other satellites. The atoms themselves that make up these stars and planets mirror the macroscopic, consisting of various electrons forming orbital clouds around a central proton-neutron nucleus, governed by the quantum processes of elementary particles such as quarks, leptons, and bosons. The universe is full of cycles, orbital cycles in galactic, stellar, and planetary systems, star 'life- death' cycles, the CNO fusion cycles within stars themselves, and energy-matter conversion cycles. It is in constant motion, filled with growth and decay. Galaxies themselves are in a state of constant relative motion. The universe is in many ways like an giant life-like being. A Cosmic Automaton.
Recording: Sydney Conservatorium of Music New Music Ensemble Conductor: Benjamin Northey
Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music 21.03.2025 (World Premiere Performance)