Heat Island

Heat Island by Frank Horvat (photo by Maxx Miller on Unsplash)

2017 / Solo

DURATION
9 minutes, 30 seconds

INSTRUMENTATION
piano

  1. Heat Island Frank Horvat (piano) 09:57

Programme Notes

When you first hear the term “Heat Island,” you might picture images of sun-drenched tourist destinations or a title for a cheesy reality TV show. But the reality is far more urgent: the Heat Island Effect is a significant and dangerous consequence of man-made climate change. On any hot summer day in an urban area, temperatures are often even hotter than they should be, simply because of the sun’s reflection off the vast expanses of concrete and building surfaces.

The Heat Island Effect is not just a visual phenomenon, like the shimmering waves rising from pavement—it can be deadly. Fortunately, some cities have started taking steps to mitigate its impact, such as requiring new buildings to have green roofs and incorporating more green space into urban planning. But much more needs to be done—and quickly—if we are to have any hope of curbing the devastating effects of climate change.

The opening of this composition, with its rumbling and murky tones, seeks to evoke the sensation of the earth radiating heat from the pavement. As the piece unfolds, it gradually ascends to higher registers with a calmer tone, symbolizing my hope that we have the capacity to restore the planet to a more natural state, reducing its heat emissions. The beginning of the piece is dark and foreboding, mirroring the intensity of the crisis. By the end, it becomes peaceful and soothing—Earth, once again, is breathing freely.

– Frank Horvat

A Little Dark Music 2 album by Frank Horvat

RECORDING
A Little Dark Music 2
Frank Horvat (piano)

Producer: Frank Horvat
Label: I Am Who I Am Records

PERFORMANCES
World Premiere
July 13, 2017
Frank Horvat
Music & Beyond Festival
Horticulture Building
Ottawa, Canada

US Premiere
April 21, 2022
Ann DuHamel
PRAYERS FOR A FEVERISH PLANET
University of Minnesota Morris
Minneapolis, USA

Tour
PRAYERS FOR A FEVERISH PLANET
2022-2023
Ann DuHamel
37 tour stops including:
San Francisco, Seattle, Portugal, Turkey, Florida State University, University of Alabama, University of Georgia

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