An evocative nature work for McLean Mix duo.Priscilla McLean, processed voice and narration (texts by Cedric Wright, etc.) glacial rock xylophone; Barton McLean on processed clariflute, processed keyboard, with stereo CD drone.  The glacial rock xylophone was composed of 500- million-year old slabs of fossilized slate from the famous Burgess Shale. As such it may be considered the oldest musical instrument in the world.  It was premiered in its final form  at the Australian Broadcasting Network in Melbourne, in 1991 “Free Range”, on a McLean Mix  tour of Australia, New Zealand.  This is quite different from the final version recorded on their “Gods, Demons and the Earth” album. Live acoustic instruments are digitally processed over ethereal tape. First version while in residence at Montclair State U., N.J.(3/88), Revised version premiered at Goucher College (4/90). In addition to the different material, another difference in the final recording on Capstone is that McLean composed it on the computer with audio and MIDI combined, an so was able to add more material than was possible in live performance. Released  on Capstone  CPS 8622, and now available on Ravello (Naxos). The live performance score is available in the McLean archive at the Crane Library in SUNY-Potsdam, NY.

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Earth Music is ℗ & © 1990 Barton McLean