Orbit's Edge by Angela Elizabeth Slater 

Orbit's edge for chamber ensemble (2024)
Orbit's edge takes its inspiration from the phenomenon known as the Roche limit, with particular attention to Saturn's ice moons. Saturn previously had many more smaller celestial bodies surrounding it, but these have been lost as they became too close to Saturn and reached their Roche limit. Once this threshold is crossed, the gravitational forces holding them together are overcome and these moons are pulled apart and disintegrate to beomce the planet's iconic rings. In the future, Phobos - one of Mars' two moons - will similarly reach its Roche limit and will be torn apart to form rings around Mars. This work explores this phenomenon, swirling around orbits that become ever closer before a destructive transformation of its original form leads to the material becoming something new, more crystalline but still forever circling and orbiting.
c.15 mins
Angela Elizabeth Slater
*This is a commission from The Aspen Music Festival and School for the 2024 season.
Performance by Aspen Contemporary Music Ensemble conducted by Tim Weiss in the Harris Hall on 14th August 2024