Composer Gary Albert’s album, Luminosity, is captured in live concert as we explore the depths of the cosmos through music.
During the lockdown of 2020, Albert had the inspiration for Luminosity after a creative dry spell. With the time and space to reflect on what is important to him, the award winning multi-instrumentalist decided to put his fascination with the cosmos and the philosophical questions that define humanity to music.
Described as a ‘sonic experience’, Albert mixes flute, piano, looping, layered FX and vocals to create an audio experience that captures wonder of the universe. With the help of the layering, Albert manages to recreate the tonal depth of a studio album in front of a live audience.
Luminosity is a mesmerising performance, with Albert acting as a central figure around which the musical experience orbits. His dramatic monologues, scattered throughout the music, add a poetic and introspective dimension. The text is taken from Brian Swimme’s ‘The Universe is a Green Dragon’.
The music builds and morphs over the course of the performance, sometimes gentle and sometimes aggressive. Albert makes use of negative space in the later stages of the performance, giving viewers time for introspection and reflection. The final movement in the piece is uplifting and invigorating; a celebration of being. You feel renewed after watching.
The visual elements of the film are of an extremely high quality thanks to Alex Forster who filmed and edited the performance. Captured from many different angles, the cinematography makes the most of the stunning location in which the performance was filmed (St Cyprian’s, London). The editing is also stunning, utilising slow motion and ethereal crossfades to add a subtle depth to the visuals.
Albert’s performance lives up to the grand themes it is based around. Thanks to the filming and editing from Alex Forster, and the mastering of the music by Zaak Kerstetter, Luminosity can be streamed to watch at home here: https://www.garyalbertmusic.com/about-luminosity
Watch the trailer below