In contrast to the intimate mood of his chamber pieces, 'The Fish that became the Sun' operates on an epic scale. 56 minutes long, written for a large ensemble of 40 musicians, many of whom are playing specially built instruments made from discarded materials, 'The Fish..' is a spectacular monster of a work. Still unmistakably Denyer, but massive in its reach, its variety and its authenticity. Utterly unique.
“In the face of destruction, Frank Denyer makes instruments out of its result and symbol – detritus, fragments – and has them speak to us in a musical ritual…. Certainty, self-assertion and fervour are steering us into catastrophe, so here is an aesthetic of hesitance, of careful appreciation, of sharing out... There’s a mournful aspect to it, but it also recalls the eternal potential for new form and therefore evolution…. Yes, it says, a life among the remains is possible.” (Michael Turnbull)