Nona sensilia

"In the spirit of Edward Lear's humorous disposition, I have concocted this title of Nona Sensilia for this vocal work. Evidently, the title draws its inspiration from Lear's "Latinized" christening of his illustrations, such as Nasticreechia Krorluppia, Tickia Orologica collected in his book entitled The Book of Nonsense. Hence Nona Sensilia is my latinized concoction of Nonsense.

Seven plant-like illustrations bearing labels of Stunnia Dinnerbellia, Tickia Orologica, Tigerlillia Terribilis, Shoebootia Utilis, Arthbroommia Rigida, Nasticreechia Krorluppia, and Manypeeplia Upsidownia provide the textual framework of the piece. Within the framework, seven limericks are selected to elaborate the specific characteristics of the illustrations, such as the broom-like plant, as well as to articulate certain alliterations of the text, for instance orologica and obsequious ornamental ostrich.

The musical composition adopts similar strategies in the electronics by reiterating, anticipating and projecting spatially these alliterations. By means of registral shifts and density variations Nona Sensilia paints a rhythmically charges soundscape. The max/msp patcher has been written by PerM Lindborg for the purporse of triggering the electronic sounds.

Nona Sensilia is commissioned by the Singapore Youth Choir."

-Joyce Bee Tuan Koh