Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Strobe lights—those which emit rapid flashes of very bright light—are often used in nightclubs at moments of heightened intensity. Their flickering regularity becomes hypnotic. They create an illusion that makes objects or people appear to be moving in slow motion or even standing still. They disorient the brain's ability to track movement and continuity, often leaving ghostly ‘afterimages’ after you look away. All these effects inspired Strobe.
This piece is composed for amplified clarinet/bass clarinet, cello, trombone and sample pad. The latter triggers an array of sounds, most of which are recorded fragments played by the three instruments.
The music is in four continuous parts: 1. The Climb (in which things tend to get higher); 2. Floors and Hover (in which beats revolve and shift); 3. Centre of Gravity (in which things tend to fall) and 4. Horizon (in which the remnants of the energy continue to flicker and buzz).
Note by Joseph Howard
I Climb
II Floors and Hover
III Centre of Gravity
IV Horizon
Michelle Hromin clarinet
Colin Alexander cello
Gemma Riley trombone
Jacob Brown percussion
Filmed at the Soundhub Showcase on Friday 16 May 2025 at The Nave, St John’s Waterloo.
#londonsymphonyorchestra #contemporarymusic #composer
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Strobe lights—those which emit rapid flashes of very bright light—are often used in nightclubs at moments of heightened intensity. Their flickering regularity becomes hypnotic. They create an illusion that makes objects or people appear to be moving in slow motion or even standing still. They disorient the brain's ability to track movement and continuity, often leaving ghostly ‘afterimages’ after you look away. All these effects inspired Strobe.
This piece is composed for amplified clarinet/bass clarinet, cello, trombone and sample pad. The latter triggers an array of sounds, most of which are recorded fragments played by the three instruments.
The music is in four continuous parts: 1. The Climb (in which things tend to get higher); 2. Floors and Hover (in which beats revolve and shift); 3. Centre of Gravity (in which things tend to fall) and 4. Horizon (in which the remnants of the energy continue to flicker and buzz).
Note by Joseph Howard
I Climb
II Floors and Hover
III Centre of Gravity
IV Horizon
Michelle Hromin clarinet
Colin Alexander cello
Gemma Riley trombone
Jacob Brown percussion
Filmed at the Soundhub Showcase on Friday 16 May 2025 at The Nave, St John’s Waterloo.
#londonsymphonyorchestra #contemporarymusic #composer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the LSO's channel: bit.ly/LSOsubscribe
Subscribe to LSO newsletter: https://smarturl.it/lsonewsletter
Follow the LSO on:
Instagram: instagram.com/londonsymphonyorchestra
Facebook: facebook.com/londonsymphonyorchestra
TikTok: tiktok.com/@londonsymphonyorchestra
Twitter: twitter.com/londonsymphony
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/london-symphony-orchestra
Website: lso.co.uk
Apple Music: geni.us/yH0sXY
Spotify: spoti.fi/291cCk0
LSO Live: lsolive.lso.co.uk
