War is Peace

Composed in March 2020 for flute and tape, War is Peace is inspired by George Orwell’s iconic novel 1984. The piece reflects themes from the book, including rebellion, love, and control, through three main sections: rebellion (A), love (B), and torture (C). It ends with a short section where the protagonist is completely overtaken by the system.

The composition incorporates Orwell's famous quote, "War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength," using it as both spoken and musical elements.

The tape part is created entirely from manipulated recordings of the setar (a Persian plucked string instrument), blending layers of sound and exploring new tones. The flute acts like a monologue, using extended techniques to merge with the tape and create a unified soundscape. This work also marks my first exploration of unconventional techniques on the setar to uncover unique timbres.

The piece was performed by Jessica Scott and recorded at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.