Gondwana (composition)

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Gondwana is a defining musical composition of spectral music for large orchestra composed by Tristan Murail using simulated synthesis to create a harmonic interpolation between an orchestrally synthesized chord derived from a simulated bell sound and a chord derived from a trombone sound (Fineberg 2000, p.69). This process is meant to evoke the shifting of continents and thus the piece is named after the former supercontinent Gondwana ([1]).

The piece uses interpolation to make a smooth transformation on all musical parameters including spectral profile, envelope, and instrumental attacks (ibid, p.108). The bell sounds were created through a Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis with a single modulator affecting five carriers to create five different harmonies, these being connected by interpolated chords (ibid, p.128-129). The components of the trombone's frequency spectrum was derived through a Fourier transform (ibid, p.69).

The pieces long quiet or silent moments, being shaped in "long, seamlessly evolving paragraphs" evoking the geological processes which created the continent. The first opening slowly transforms a chord before turning to trills. [2]