Edward Teller (b. 1908) was the nuclear physicist who managed the development of the Hydrogen Bomb [also nicknamed the ‘dirty’ bomb as it produced far more highly radio-active material than any other device]. Teller refered to this weapon as ‘the Super’. He was also instrumental in the development of the ‘clean’ bomb or neutron bomb that destroys only organic material and leaves buildings and other structures relatively entact. In recent years he become a high-profile advocate of the Strategic Defense Initiave or ‘star wars’ project. There are some who think he has much to remember.
Ed Teller Remembers is not a portrait piece or a direct criticism of Teller who has been described as "one of the most thoughtful statesmen of science", and who clearly thought of himself as a patriot. It is more a symbollic representation of the way that our society has tended to escalate our isolation with concepts like ‘MAD’ [Mutually Assured Destruction]. It is also explores the difficulty we face as individuals in ingesting the detail of very large-scale problems and remaining focussed on their possible solutions. A new reciter’s text may be compiled for each performance from the vast and labyrinthine history of the nuclear industry.
Ed Teller Remembers was first presented in the anti-nuclear concert n • blackflowers by a l e a new music ensemble and was intended to be one of a set of pieces dealing with this issue: the others were the ensemble piece Leo Szilard and the song cycle vo.
First performed: by Paul Tanner, Paul Gazzolla and Lindsay Vickery Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth Cultural Centre July 12, 13 and14 1990