Description
During the pandemic, The United Kingdom introduced a so-called ‘traffic light system’ to control the movement of people to reduce the spread of coronavirus. People from the ‘Red’ countries were not permitted to travel, ‘Amber' meant travel was possible, but only under specified conditions, and ‘Green' granted complete freedom of travel. In the first movement, Red, Amber & Green, a driver - like a frustrated traveller - is impatiently pressing the throttle, waiting for the signal to change. The first traffic lights in the world were introduced in London in 1868. Since then, many kinds of light-controlled crossings with cute animalistic names have appeared within the cityscape. The second movement, Pegasus (an equestrian crossing for horse riders), is the blissfulness of a relieved traveller: sipping champagne high above the clouds and maybe seeing a glimpse of the mythical Pegasus flying by. The third movement, Crash & Crush, is a reminder of the dangers of driving through a red light and maybe also of a premature easing of corona restrictions. In the last movement, Toucans (‘two can go' crossing for pedestrians and bicycles), Puffins (pedestrian user-friendly-intelligent) & Pelicans (pedestrian light controlled crossing), we are in a jungle where there are no more restrictions, no masks are required and the party is on! Come on, mate, let's go! But should we not have learned something from the time of corona?
Tomi Räisänen, 2022
Instrumentation
db, tape
Category
Works for Solo Instrument
Premiere
First performance on September 26, 2022 in Kiel, Germany by Heiko Maschmann.
Movements
I. Red, Amber & Green, II. Pegasus, III. Crash & Crush, IV. Toucans, Puffins & Pelicans
Commisioned by / dedications
Dedicated to Heiko Maschmann. Commissioned with support from the Sibelius Fund.
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