Composer and electronic musician Matt McBane returns to National Sawdust to present Topography, the “terrestrial companion” to 2022’s aquatic Bathymetry, written for cellist Ashley Bathgate and percussion sextet Mantra Percussion. The 45-minute piece evokes open spaces and natural landscapes through individual movements ranging from textural, ambient slow-movements, to pattern-based, contrapuntal fast-movements. Topography builds on the intersection of acoustic and electronic sounds that McBane introduced on Bathymetry, with the percussion “orchestra” consisting of both standard and found percussion instruments as well as analog synthesizers (played live), piano and drum set, all played by the six percussionists. Ashley Bathgate will perform an opening set featuring the world premiere live performance of Anuj Bhutani’s, On Letting Go and a performance of Kate Moore, Velvet (from Bathgate’s and Moore's album, Stories for Ocean Shells).

This concert is a co-presentation with WNYC’s New Sounds, hosted by John Schaefer, and will be recorded for broadcast on a future episode of the show.