Ocean Soundscape
BY LIZE BRIEL
Ocean Soundscape: Installation about Ocean Pollution is a 20 minute musical work composed for string quintet, trash, and electronics. The work is aimed at raising awareness about the crisis our oceans face with pollution. By integrating trash into a composition for string quintet and electronics, the music mirrors the pollution of our oceans. Ultimately, this work aims to illustrate that waste has the potential to become a resource, even capable of creating art.
The piece transports listeners to the depths of the ocean, before ascending to its surface, depicting the devastating impact of pollution through distinct sections, each with its own unique character and mood. The composition culminates in a climactic section, incorporating recurring motifs, authentic recordings of oceanic sounds and discarded debris, dissonant electronic elements, and improvisations by the string quintet. The piece concludes with a cello solo accompanied by the strings and whale and ocean sounds, evoking a sense of hope and reflection.
Ocean Soundscape also offers a unique and immersive multisensory experience, incorporating captivating visuals and immersive sound to create a powerful statement on the pollution of our oceans. The performance features the performers ingeniously inserting trash under the strings of their instruments and the hall being adorned with scattered trash, to reinforce the work’s core message. Additionally, the performers employ extended techniques to add another layer of symbolism and invite viewers to reflect on the environmental issues explored. These visual elements combine seamlessly with the sonic components, enriching the overall message and experience.
The work was performed on 5 October 2023 at the Fismer Hall in Stellenbosch University Conservatorium as well as on 9 October 2023 at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town. It was performed by Caro Hill (Vln1), Dane Hayes (Vln2), Mariette Schumann (Vla), Ethan Lawson (Vc), Njabulo Nxumalo (Db), and Antoni Schonken (electronics).
ABOUT LIZE
Lize Briel is a composer, arranger, and flautist based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. With a deep passion for sound and a growing interest in interdisciplinary collaboration, her work explores the boundaries between music, visual art, and social commentary. Her compositional style leans toward the experimental, often drawing from unconventional sound worlds and designed for diverse instrumentations.
Currently pursuing a master’s degree in composition at Stellenbosch University under the guidance of Mr. Arthur Feder and Dr. Antoni Schonken, Lize also studies flute with Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen and Prof. Corvin Matei, and orchestral conducting with Prof. Matei. Her musical training is broad, including Trinity Grade 7 in alto saxophone and studies in indigenous African instruments with Ms. Ncebakazi Mnukwana.
Lize’s recent projects include a 20-minute composition for string quintet, electronics, and found trash, which addresses the urgent issue of ocean pollution. She is also co-developing a sound installation on schizophrenia with two other artists, set to be presented later this year. These works reflect her commitment to creating impact art—music that not only explores sonic innovation but also speaks to human and environmental struggles. Through her compositions, Lize seeks to contribute meaningfully to the world, one piece at a time.