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Written by: Mandy Stefanakis
‘I want people to know what we have – and cherish it.’ Arts Minister, Tony Burke
Written by: Justin O'Connor, Emma Webb, Dr Tully Barnett, Julian Meyrick
A new government should abandon the application of neoliberal fantasies to the cultural sector. It should look to a new, democratic and participatory policy approach, looking to the public good, drawing on ideas of universal basic services, care, and social solidarity. It should remember that the purpose of government expenditure in art and culture is the right to art and culture for all of us.
Written by: Kim Goodwin and Caitlin Vincent
The new arts minister, Tony Burke, has long advocated for addressing issues of insecure work and unreliable pay. The arts and cultural sector is an industry leader in insecure work. And it is at the intersection of cultural and industrial relations policy where our new arts minister could dramatically reshape the sector.
Written by: A New Approach (ANA) Insight Reports
[Download Full Report] The 2019–20 financial year included both significant bushfires and the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic. While Covid-19 dominates our every thought and every policy today, it is important to remember that this was not the…
Written by: Jenny Hocking
Gough Whitlam brought arts policy to the fore both in the development of his reform agenda and during the election campaign. He drew a direct link between a healthy cultural sector, national identity and a flourishing political sphere: “The relation between politics and culture is clear and real. Political vigour has invariably produced intellectual and creative vigour.”
Written by: Alison Carroll
Canada spends more on public diplomacy than Australia spends on the whole of its foreign service. Excluding public broadcasting, France spends an estimated A$1.9 billion, Germany A$1.6 billion, the UK A$350 million, and the Netherlands A$100 million. Australia spends A$12 million.
ANAM Quartetthaus to host massive season of Australian music in London ANAM Quartetthaus represents the biggest leap in immediacy and potency for the string quartet as an art form since microphones and speakers arrived. – David Harrington KRONOS Quartet The…
Written by: Novak Manojlovic
Thoughts on the relationship between community, the arts, capitalism, engineering and inspiration.
Chris puts 10 questions to 10 Australian musicians. This month: Pianist/composer Mike Nock New Zealand born pianist/composer Mike Nock has been a widely recognised figure in Australasian music since his first Sydney recording in 1959 with the 3OUT Trio. He…
Written by: Loretta Barnard
There aren’t many musicians who can boast an almost 70-year career at the top of their game. Jazz trumpeter Bob Barnard was one such musician, rare because from first till last, he dazzled. An unassuming man, he was more comfortable…
Written by: Robin Ewing
Different art forms enable us to develop a better understanding of ourselves, others and the world because the Arts activate our thinking and challenge our traditional systems and ways of being. Students themselves discuss how arts and cultural learning fosters their imaginations and creative intuitions as well as their self-efficacy in ways that other learning does not.
Written by: Government of Wales
The Welsh government will establish a National Music Service to bring music education to every child and young person. The new music education plan announced recently has promised to make music accessible for all children and young people in Wales.…
Written by: Helen Champion
Curriculum is the ‘what’ in teaching and learning. Usually, arts/music education advocacy ignores the curriculum or calls for it to change. Curriculum designers and developers definitely prefer the latter and, they’d like practice-based evidence to support the calls for change.…
From music-makers to “musicians”: methodological disembedding and the encouragement of participation
Written by: George Musgrave
Research has confirmed that participation in music-making brings well-being, a broad range of personal psychological benefits. For some young people, this positive experience can lead to a desire to become a professional musician. But life as a music professional can bring stress and mental health problems for some. Music educators must find ways to address this dilemma.
Written by: Susan Ledger
The next government must recognise the complexity, diversity and interrelatedness of all parts of the education system – students and families, early childhood, primary, secondary, vocational, higher education, and initial teacher education.
Written by: Jessica Holloway
Tanya Plibersek probably will become education minister. She will have plenty to do. There are several pressing challenges in the education sector. These range from teacher shortages to concerns about school funding and student and teacher safety and well-being.
Written by: Dr Adam Lucas, University of Wollongong, Emeritus Professor James Guthrie AM, Macquarie Business School, Dr Alessandro Pelizzon, Southern Cross University
The introduction of poorly conceived course fee changes by the Federal Coalition Government in late 2020 was widely condemned, with a commitment made by the Labor Opposition to reverse them when it returned to office. These fee increases have significantly…
Category:Ethnomusicology, Musicology
Author: Andrew Robson
New York: Routledge, Transnational Studies in Jazz Series, 2020. 161pp. (Hardback, paperback and e-book versions are available, as well as ‘rent or buy text e-books’ at vitalsource.com.)
ISBN 9781138316027
Reviewed by: Elaine Lewis
“The golden periods of jazz occur when changes are made, when new music and styles are created to reflect a changing world.” Gail Brennan, 1993. “Jazz recordings are powerful objects. The legacy of recorded jazz functions as the backbone of the music’s history and shapes our understanding of the past.” T. Whyton, Beyond a Love Supreme, 2013, 3
Artist(s): Ensemble Liaison. Timothy Young (pianist), David Griffiths (clarinettist), Svetlana Bogosavljevic (cellist)
Genre(s):New Music
Location, Date: Thursday May 12, 2022 in the Old Teachers’ College Auditorium, Armidale NSW
Producer, Presenter: Musica Viva Australia
“Ensemble Liaison’s recent concert in Armidale was the best chamber music concert I have enjoyed in decades, and many Musica Viva regulars here were of the same opinion…”
Artist(s): State Opera Ensemble, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Richard Mills, directed by Stuart Maunder. Full cast at the conclusion of the review.
Genre(s):
Location, Date: Festival Theatre, Adelaide, May 7, 2022
A semi-staged performance of Richard Meale’s Voss in Adelaide turned out to be a fuller, more satisfying representation of this landmark opera than might have been expected. Some effective staging solutions plus high standard performances from the cast and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra made it a notable success.
Artist(s): Johannes Luebbers Dectet. Johannes Luebbers (composer/conductor), Emily Thomas (flute), Ben Opie (oboe), Angela Davis (alto sax/clarinet), Michael Wallace (tenor sax/clarinet), Paul Williamson (trumpet), Nicole Dixon (French horn), Andrew Murray (trombone), Andrea Keller (piano), Hiroki Hoshino (bass), Aaron McCoullough (drums)
Label: Earshift Records EAR056 dist. MGM. CD, DL, streaming. 2021
Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin
“Each track grabs attention and demands to be heard with full focus.”
Category:Jazz
Artist(s): Jeremy Rose (tenor and soprano saxophones / bass clarinet), Steve Barry (piano), Noel Mason (double bass), Alex Hirlian (drums).
Label: CD, Earshift Records
Reviewed by: Timothy Bruer
“A beautifully recorded album featuring a great contemporary jazz group playing an all original program of diverse compositions. There is much fire and interaction to be found within their readings of the pieces, which are both accessible and challenging.”
Artist(s): Muses Trio: Christa Powell (violin), Louise King (cello), Therese Milanovic (piano)
Label: ABC Fresh Start Commissions Digital, ABC Classic and Jazz, UPC 196292777857
Reviewed by: Kevin Bonnett
“Fire Dances brings together eight accomplished women composers with their individual interpretations of the impact and resonance of bushfires on people and landscape. The works are startlingly diverse and intricate, reflecting great resourcefulness and thought.”
Category:Contemporary, Pop, Rock
Artist(s): Daniel Johns with collaborators including Peking Duk, What So Not, Moxie Raia, Van Dyke Parks and Purplegirl
Label: BMG: FTRNVR04, CD
Reviewed by: Noel Mengel
“Making music that sounds more like the future than the past has been part of Johns’s DNA for all his adult life. He has never done that more deftly, more confidently, than he does here.”
Category:Classical
Artist(s): Lloyd Van’t Hoff (clarinet), Peter de Jager (piano)
Label: CD and digital – Bandcamp
Reviewed by: John Weretka
“Van’t Hoff and De Jager paint an image of the late, great Brahms at the height of his powers.”
Category:Classical
Artist(s): Jeanell Carrigan (piano). Works by de Cairos-Rego, Parker, Bourne, Hesse, mostly fromn the 1920s and 30s.
Label: CD Wirripang Wirr 106
Reviewed by: Alex Raineri
“A compelling disc that features excellent pianism and artistry from Jeanell Carrigan.”
Category:Jazz
Artist(s): Jeremy Sawkins (solo guitar)
Label: OD003 Organized Discs 2021
Reviewed by: Chris Cody
Jeremy Sawkins’ album is a relaxed and gentle exploration of some beautiful music that soothes the mind and calms the senses. It’s a homage to music, love, and family.
Category:Experimental Music
Artist(s): Jon Rose. CD1 17 tracks, mostly duos, with partners Jim Denley, Freya Schack-Arnott, Clayton Thomas, Robbie Avenaim. CD2, 7 tracks, selections from recent experimental projects.
Label: 2CDs, ReR JR8 megacorp. Large booklet includes essay by Kurt Gottschalk.
Reviewed by: Ian Muldoon
“‘State Of Play’ is a selected and fascinating 2CD compilation by violinist Jon Rose, one of Australia’s most inventive and committed musical artists. CD1 contains 19 duos between Rose using a variety of violin based instruments and three guest artists. CD2 contains seven recorded formal music projects including the remarkable and beautiful ‘Singing Up The Harbour Bridge’. Of interest to any music lover.”
Category:Contemporary, Pop, Psychedelic, Rock
Artist(s): Tame Impala. Kevin Parker
Label: Island/Fiction/Virgin. Entire box set is available on LP or digital, some tracks also on CD
Reviewed by: Mandy Stefanakis
“Up for a trip? Oh, what a journey is the music of Tame Impala.”