môr(G)wyn  was composed specifically for performance in Copenhagen Town Hall Square on a subterranean computer-controlled sound system called the SOUND/GALLERY, the 25 loudspeakers of which are embedded just below the surface of a pedestrian area of the Square. Computers beneath the Square control the ‘choreography’ of the sound in the space.

Inspired by Copenhagen’s apparently benign tourist landmark, the Little Mermaid, môr(G)wyn is explores the sea’s contradictory yet indivisible characteristics of beauty and danger, as symbolised in the mermaid/sirens myth. It brings together two pools of material – sea sounds and women's voices – in two contrasting musical manifestations, one violent, the other lyrical.

The title môr(G)wyn is a fabricated word containing a number of (mainly Welsh) resonances, including sea, death, girl/maiden, white/blessed, mermaid

môr(G)wyn was composed in Copenhagen during a 10 day visit in December 1996. It was commissioned by Ketil Teisen (Lydl@boratoriet) and Michael Madsen (SOUND/GALLERY), as part of Copenhagen’s year as European City of Culture. The sound material was composed in the studios of Lydl@boratoriet, with computer spatialisation composed in the SOUND/GALLERY studio beneath the Town Hall Square (technical assistance: Steen Johannessen). Preliminary work was done in the Electroacoustic Music Studios of the University of Wales Bangor, UK. môr(G)wyn won second prize in the 1997 EAR competition , Budapest.

© 2002 A P Lewis, University of Wales, Bangor. All Rights Reserved.