Cathal Roche at Source

As part of his two week Improvised Music Company Navigator residency at Source, Cathal Roche presents an afternoon performance investigating the writings of artist Mainie Jellett on her explorations in cubism and non-representational form, with a view to affect his approach to 3D audio composition.

Roche says: "The use of abstraction in the paintings of Eddie Kennedy which will be on show in the Gallery space during this residency offers an opportunity to talk with visitors about the language of abstraction with a view to capturing local experience as scaffold for the emerging narrative in my work here. Regarding researching the locality, the gallery space was designed by the buildings architects to reflect the dimensions of the town square, furthering the space as a place for local assembly. I will be recording higher-order ambisonics field recordings in the town centre at different times of the day and night to enhance this idea further, installing a 3D listening experience of the town centre into the performance space. These recordings which will appear and disappear will serve as familiar bookends of sound, contrasting with the non-representational approach to sound choreography being undertaken in my composition."

NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.

Cathal Roche is an Irish saxophonist and composer whose work transcends traditional boundaries, crafting immersive sound worlds where the spatial dance of speaking and musical voices converge. In his compositions, forgotten soundscapes find refuge, embraced by the collective listening in a visual shelter. His work explores the resonance of stability and instability within intimate pauses, celebrating a paradoxical and fragile oneness that invites listeners into a profound auditory experience. His art resonates with a deep exploration of sound, space, and human connection.