King Torques Hollow Acetate
for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Instrumentation
3.3.3.3., 4.3.3.1., 3Perc., Hp. Pno., Strings
Duration
C.7 Minutes
Programme Note
“Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything... It’s like having your life in your pocket. It’s the ultimate digital device...”
- Steve Jobs, 2007
This piece begins with the mechanical rhythm of progress - a reflection of the technological advancements that defined the early 21st century. The music shifts as the digital world takes hold, its motifs evolving with increasing urgency, mimicking the relentless barrage of notifications, ringtones, and the omnipresent control our devices exert over our lives.
As the piece unfolds, this digital energy grows overwhelming, blurring the line between humanity and technology. The constant connection, once celebrated in 2007 as liberation, becomes suffocating in 2025. The music spirals into chaos, symbolising the burnout of a society tethered to the endless demands of the digital age. The whimsical title came from a humorous AI-generated speech-to-text caption my sister shared with me - nonsensical, yet it somehow felt perfectly fitting.
2007 was the year we gained the world in our pockets - but at what cost?
Recording
Composition Insight
King Torques Hollow Acetate was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 as part of their 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century Series which celebrated the first 25 years of the 2000's. The piece was written for and premiered by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with conductor Jac van Steen.
“Jasper Dommett’s music captures perfectly that sense of human made things and dreams spiralling mechanically and digitally out of control.” - Tom Service