Heather Pinkham: Piano Concerto 'Nowhere and No-When'

World premiere by Heather Pinkham's piano concerto, live concert recording (private), October 5, 2019.
Ralph van Raat. piano
Merced Symphony Orchestra
Ming Luke, conductor
www.ralphvanraat.com
www.heatherpinkham.com
Nowhere and No-When was written for the Merced Symphony and pianist Ralph van Raat. The piece was inspired by Fermi’s Paradox, which is the apparent contradiction between the lack of evidence and high probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations in the universe.
The piece begins with a NASA recording from one of the Kepler stars, which has been converted from light curve waves to audible sound. The soloist then takes over the signal-like rhythm and approximate notes made by the recording, followed by the timpani taking over to create a more layered sound. From there, the music expands into its own sound world, in which the piano is the researcher/investigator.
Just like the well-known Voyager spacecraft, in this piece there are some hidden messages hidden within the notes. There are actual verbal messages which are encrypted in this music, and with some research they are discernable.
-Heather Pinkham

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