PHARAOH Album now available. Listen now!
In 2024, Peter was commissioned to compose an immersive soundscape for the 2024 Winter Masterpieces® exhibition, ‘Pharaoh’, at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The NGV partnered with the British Museum to present Pharaoh, a landmark exhibition that celebrates three thousand years of ancient Egyptian art and culture.
Through more than 500 objects, including monumental sculpture, architecture, temple statuary, exquisite jewellery, papyri, coffins and a rich array of funerary objects, the exhibition unpacks the phenomenon of pharaoh, those all-powerful kings claiming a divine origin.
Opened from June until October 2024, the immersive Pharaoh exhibition at NGV was brought to life by Melbourne designer Peter King, with sonic scenography by Peter Corrigan. This multi-sensory journey was designed to transport a visitor through the life of a Pharaoh, from sunrise to sunset, through the fusion of music and design.
The commissioning of a composer to provide the sonic scenography for an exhibition of this scale is a world-first for any gallery in the world, and Peter was delighted to be part of it.
You can view a selection of videos that explore the music from ‘Pharaoh’ below.
Part I: Dawn
This was the first piece I wrote for PHARAOH and the first you hear in the exhibition. It marks the beginning of this journey into Ancient Egypt which follows the cycle of the day. “Dawn/Dreaming” is an elegy for a time long past; often mournful, but also regal and mysterious, suggesting the ancient and divine power of these kings from long ago.
Photos: Tom Ross
Part III: Morning
The third in my series of videos exploring the music from PHARAOH. “Morning” develops the musical themes and motifs from the earlier rooms, exploring the Pharaohs’ dual roles as kings and high priests. It also hints at an ever deeper connection the Pharaohs had to the gods…
Photos: Tom Ross
Part II: Sunrise
The second in my series of videos exploring the music of PHARAOH. This gentle, ethereal piece attempts to evoke the tender sounds of a kingdom's sunrise, while also revealing the majesty and endurance of the Ancient Egyptian monarchs.
Photos: Tom Ross
Part IV: Midday
The fourth in my series of videos exploring the music from PHARAOH. “Midday” is the climactic piece for the largest room in the exhibition; the colossal sounds of the score illustrate both the scorching desert sun at midday and the ascension of the Pharaohs as gods unto themselves.
Photos: Sean Fennessy
PHARAOH album now available on all streaming services