Isolation20
Justin Grounds 
20 March to 29 May 2021 Online at uillinngalleries.com

Isolation20 marks a moment in our history and celebrates the unique culture of our community with the composition and performance of new music. Listen to the piece below.

''The lockdown has of course been challenging in some ways but it has also opened up more opportunities to learn. I've been able to make music with people from all over the world who have been missing creating music together. Unfortunately, the joy of playing live in a room together has diminished with the current restrictions but the collaborative element has been great. I've been able to see people bring their music together in really interesting ways''. Justin Grounds

Isolation20, 2020/21, composer Justin Grounds, 10:29
For best listening effect please wear headphones.

In a project supported by Cork County Council / Creative Ireland, Clonakilty-based composer Justin Grounds worked with twenty singers from across the county of Cork, inviting a diverse community of volunteers to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, practically, symbolically and creatively.

Justin Grounds is a classically trained violinist and composer whose recent projects include Last Dance with dancer Inma Pavon, and The Embracing Universe, a new oratorio performed by a special project choir and seven musicians at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre for Skibbereen Arts Festival 2019.

Following a public call out in July 2020, twenty singers (ten men and ten women) came forward to participate in the project which focused on their experience of life in isolation. Following a series of conversations with the participants, Justin then responded to these encounters to create a new musical composition using themes which emerged from the collective and individual experiences of the singers. During the composing process, a WhatsApp group was formed where Justin posted regular videos detailing ideas as the score came together and invited the participants to add their thoughts, their own inspirations, words and responses. In this way, the music reflects the individual voices and experiences of each singer, and the collaboration of the group as a whole, producing a rich polyphonic sound piece which is a lasting testament to the experience of isolation.

Making Isolation20, a video document by Justin Grounds, 11:47, 2021

Each participant recorded their part through their mobile phone and sent it to Justin, who edited the recordings together to form the sound piece. Each also was tasked with taking a ‘selfie’ to record this moment in time. As Level 5 restrictions continue, and with closure of physical exhibition spaces, the public manifestation of the project has been reimagined to be presented here online.

The score is a visual representation of the composition including drawings, text, symbols and other musical notations.

You can flip through the score above.