The Fragile Corridor by Michael Burritt

The Fragile Corridor is my first venture into composing with electronics. I have long been intrigued by the idea of writing for acoustic instruments paired with timbres outside our typical sound world. I was taken by Pat Metheny’s recording project, "Orchestrion," where he created a massive electronic orchestra as a platform to perform his compositions with. There was an energy in this that I had not found in most electronic mediums and it inspired me to consider something similar.  Additionally, I was compelled by the idea of adding this element to my programming not as a replacement for works performed with live ensembles, but rather as a unique palette to pair with the existing repertoire.  I composed and orchestrated the work, then collaborated with my good friend and amazing musician Matt Curlee to create the sounds heard in "The Fragile Corridor." Matt's understanding of my musical instincts and creative genius helped me bring this project come to life.  The following excerpt from Night Film by Marisha Pessl was the inspiration for the title: “It was a covert line of attack described in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Your enemy expected the direct approach. He prepared for it and fiercely fought it off, resulting in severe casualties, the expenditure of major resources—and, ultimately, your own defeat. And yet, occasionally, there was another entrance, the fragile corridor. Your enemy never expected advancement via this route because it was labyrinthine and treacherous, and he often didn’t even know it was there. But if your army managed to make it through, it would deliver you not just behind your enemy’s lines but to his inner chamber, the heart of his heart.”