On Fear

For Electronics and Explore Ensemble

Composed and Mixed by Gabrielle Dalsan

Premiered at The Royal College of Music, London (2025).

‘On Fear’ is a piece written for ensemble and electronics. Based on Krishna Murti’s speech on the subject of fear, along with his book titled ‘On Fear’, my composition was created to deliver the same message to an audience of people. The work uses choreography and live music, set to the electronic track, to showcase the narrative of the mind, fear and our running thoughts.

The ensemble should act as an amateur group of musicians, preparing for a rehearsal. The Cellist is the ‘main character’, and attention should be given to the cellist throughout. As the piece progresses, it becomes evident the group is simply an echo chamber of the Cellists mind – they are the thoughts that create fear within the Cellist. The musical writing is kept very simple in order to convey an ‘amateurish’ feel, but also to allow the audience to pay more attention to the deeper message underlying the piece.