The definition of zero is a mathematical term denoting the absence of magnitude or quantity. Zero has been talked about a lot as it has been for many years since the concept evolved in many cultures with its first origins thought to be Sumerian.

Zero is applied to terms like “patient zero” and Z”R₀” (R – Nought or R – Zero). These terms regularly appeared in mainstream news and media to provide background to the complex science used to make sense of the 2020 global pandemic. The scale an impact of what happened during the pandemic was hard to comprehend.

My lifelong interest in numbers, led me to study Schillinger’s Book “Mathematical Basis for the Arts” and after leaving University. The ideas contained in this book have influenced many of my creative musical ideas before computer technology was widely available to either write or produce digital recording, samples, or synthesis electronic sounds.

This piece is inspired by the ideas of scale and magnitude uses live recordings of trombone, drums and voices multi tracked to produce a large orchestral sound, the trombones emerging from the rasping vocal drone to create a scary ghoulish landscape inspired by the bleakest parts of Northern England.