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The Storm Glass (2024)
World premiere, new CSO commission supported by Kimberley Burnett
12 MAY 20242024 Australian Series | Heart-Space
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Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

Michael Bakrnčev

The Storm Glass (2024)

I am thrilled to present The Storm Glass, a new composition that draws inspiration from the evocative poetry of Lisa Gorton. This work, commissioned by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra for soprano, oboe, string quartet and piano, delves into the captivating world of Gorton’s poetry, particularly her collection Hotel Hyperion. In 2021, I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Gorton at a sci-fi poetry slam, where Hotel Hyperion immediately caught my attention. Since then, her words have lingered in my mind, sparking my imagination and igniting the creative process behind this composition and anongoing project for solo piano.

The title of Gorton’s poetry sequence, ‘The Storm Glass: A Description of The Storm Glass and Brief Guide To Its Use In Forecasting Weather’, consists of six sections. In crafting this musical work, I meticulously extracted and delicately highlighted various moments from within Gorton’s poetry. These moments, when woven together, form a cohesive and poignant narrative that captures the essence of Gorton’s literary universe while honouring the originality, depth, and complexity of her work.

Through the interplay of soprano, oboe, string quartet and piano, The Storm Glass invites listeners on a journey through the atmospheric landscapes painted by Gorton’s words. From the ethereal melodies that mirror the mysteries of the storm glass to the intricate harmonies that reflect the intricacies of human emotions, this composition strives to evoke a profound sense of connection and introspection. As the storm glass forecasts the shifting tides of weather, The Storm Glass seeks to forecast the emotional landscapes within us, mirroring the turbulence and tranquility of the human experience.

I am deeply grateful to Lisa Gorton for her inspiring poetry and to the performers who bring this musical interpretation to life. May this premiere be a testament to the enduring power of artistic collaboration and creative expression.

© Michael Bakrnčev, 2024


Lisa Gorton

Extracts from ‘The Storm Glass: A Description of The Storm Glass and Brief Guide To Its Use In Forecasting Weather’ This sequence appears in Hotel Hyperion (Giramondo, 2013)


this morning raises,
its more precise hallucination,
or that more formal vaulting of remorse

its crystals retreat from tempest
into the vanishing point of their dimension

where images fold into images the way a child disappears
into the film in which she plays herself

an instrument of hauntings
as if to say he gave his whole life
to become his idea of himself

so tireless and without the extravagance of waves
a storm glass amasses

this precarious adornment,
this needlework in quartz
mistakeable for regret

that experience be forfeit
to this illuminated scene

© Lisa Gorton, 2013