something happens then something else happens then all sorts of other things happen (2025) is a modular composition which uses a series of states that present a wide range of different types of activity. The players cue states at will, responding to the new prompts as quickly as possible. Occasionally more than one state may be active, requiring players to decide how best to proceed when there is too much to do. The piece explores how we make decisions in groups, especially in work-focused situations where task overload and impossible time constraints force us to develop strategies to cope. The title comes from a line in Diane Settterfield’s novel Once upon a river (2018).

Commissioned by soundinitiative with funds provided by Diaphonique. First performed by soundinitiative with students from CRR93, Aubervilliers, Paris on 11 April 2025.