rory murphy

composer


Parallax Orionis MMXVI

2016
~5’

string trio on Orion

the score is constructed from the geometry of the constellation

players travel between stars (noteheads), over a plane on which, like in a conventional score, the x-axis represents time and the y-axis pitch

volume/dynamic is determined by apparent magnitude (brightness as seen from Earth), represented by notehead size

durations between noteheads are determined by the real distances between stars (information absent from the 2-dimensional constellation), calculated through astrometry using the coordinates of right ascension, declination, and distance from Earth.