Microtopia

Microtopia was inspired by the wondrous nature film Microcosmos, in which the insect world is magnified into large-aslife tableaux. The title of the work is a combination of the words microscopic (micro) and biotope (topia), in reference to this weird and wonderful world. From the original four-part composition, Bert Appermont made an instrumentation of two parts for woodwind ensemble and optional string bass, harp and mallet percussion, Papilionoidea (the butterflies) and Hymenoptera (the wasps). The music aims to be suggestive rather than produce a literal evocation or depiction. I am convinced that everybody can imagine different scenes and moods when listening to these two parts, from fluttering butterflies to aggressive wasps. The colourful orchestration and harmonisation really work in this respect. The use of trills, atmospheric chords and irregular times (five-eight) gives the work an unusual character.