MAGNITUDES

Live at the Bowl saw the world premiere of the MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studios) Synthesiser Orchestra performing an epic, newly commissioned piece called Magnitudes on Saturday 27 March 2021 as part of MESS at the Bowl.

The MESS Synthesiser Orchestra brought together an almost impossible array of cutting edge synthesisers spanning from the 1960s to the present day. Performing as one ensemble for Live at the Bowl, this was one of the largest gatherings of these iconic electronic musical instruments ever seen on stage.

The inauguration of the MESS Synthesiser Orchestra signalled the beginning of a series of mass activations of the MESS collection at an extraordinary scale. There was an incredible array of electronic instruments from right across the history of electronic music on stage – some for the first time in many decades. 

Audiences were entranced by Magnitudes – composed and conducted by Mat Watson – a performance event which made use of 40 synths and 16 performers in the newly formed MESS Synthesiser Orchestra.

Magnitudes moved through tonal, textural, melodic, harmonic, abstract and absurd themes to reveal itself across multiple movements. Intense sound phenomena and complete chaos gave way to moments of stillness and feelings of euphoria.