Infra: Aural Settings

Infra: Aural Settings

Music Composition

• The aural setting of Infra is an electronic score by Max Richter.
• Richter’s score is a contemporary classical composition. It’s written for piano, strings, and electronics.
• The composition mirrors the theme of everyday life in a city, featuring repetitive patterns and melancholic tones reminiscent of city sounds.

Sound Features

• The music in Infra is built around a loping motif in the piano, underpinned by low, electronic drones and high, sustained, bell-like tones.
• The use of minimalistic patterns and the changes in dynamics create a sense of rising anticipation and make the audience aware of the underlying emotional distress.

Relationship between Music and Choreography

• The music does not serve to illustrate the dance; the choreography and the music exist separately, providing two parallel narratives.
• Motifs in the music align with and underscore emotional highs and lows within the choreographic narrative.
• The highs and lows of the music score coincide with those in the dancer’s movements, representing the emotional journey of city dwellers.

Use of Silence

• The performance features chunks of silence that punctuate the music, influencing the rhythm of the dance.
• Silence is used dramatically in Infra. It marks the transition in scenes and contributes in creating a sense of alienation and disconnect among characters.

Other Aural Elements

• Alongside the score, there’s a recording of everyday city sounds which include footsteps, muffled voices and traffic noise.
• The use of off-stage noises creates an immersive experience, making the audience feel like they are in the middle of a city.

Governing Idea

• The aural elements in Infra underscore the idea of loneliness in busy urban life. They foster a sense of melancholy and create a sense of urban living through both its sound and silence.