Stephen Grieco, DMA, Assistant Professor of Music, unveiled his latest project, a string orchestra composition titled “Dark Adaptation,” during a virtual Common Hour on Wednesday, April 14. The album is a multimedia experience fusing music and visual art to evoke astronomical objects like black holes and faraway stars.
Grieco said “Dark Adaptation,” for which he played and recorded all of the instruments himself, is unique in its presentation combining music, astronomy, and art.
“Part of the hope with this is to inspire people to look up and enjoy what’s around us—piquing an interest in space,” he said.
The project tapped the expertise of Richard J. Thompson, PhD, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Allied Health, who holds bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in astronomy. Thompson wrote educational briefs on each of the astronomical objects featured on “Dark Adaptation.”
“[Grieco] did his homework,” Thompson said of the “impressive” array of celestial objects and technical concepts presented in the project.
Grieco, who oversees Cabrini’s Music programs, explained how he arranged and performed the music to match certain traits exhibited by astronomical objects. On “Neutrinos,” the album’s fifth track, Grieco aimed to show the miniscule and elusive nature of subatomic neutrinos.
“The smallest element in music is to pluck the note,” he said, pointing out how the arrangement is finger-plucked on violins and cellos (rather than bowed) in order to create notes with short resonances. The frenzied melodies relate to a neutrino’s instability.
Set against swells of brooding but hopeful string harmonies, penultimate track “Seeking” begs the question: is there life on other planets or are we alone?
“My hope is that at the end of the piece, you might be able to answer if you think there is life on other planets,” Grieco said.
“Dark Adaptation” is available to purchase on Grieco’s website and includes a digital booklet featuring Thompson’s descriptions and artwork by Marie Grieco, Stephen’s mother.