Zubin Kanga performing Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees during a workshop with the composer. Photograph by Benjamin Tassie.

Benjamin Tassie’s Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees uses the latest studio and keyboard technologies (including the 4D expressive ROLI Seaboard Rise 2 keyboard) to augment the sound and capabilities of some of the world’s most significant historical organs. The piece uses recordings made by the composer, of historical organs from across the UK and Europe, including the Van Straten Organ, a reconstruction of a late-Medieval Dutch organ (dating from 1479) in Amsterdam, period instruments at St Cecelia’s Hall, University of Edinburgh, and the Wingfield Organ, a reconstructed English Tudor organ. 

Earth of the Slumbering and Liquid Trees is a monolithic, 75-minute tour de force, in which the audience is invited to immerse themselves in this sonically enveloping drone-composition. Performed by Kanga in the round using three different keyboards to trigger these organ sounds virtually, this piece of shifting and transforming tones creates a rich and enveloping sensory experience.

Full details and tickets for this free performance on the National Gallery’s website →