Written by: Barnaby McAll
Twenty years ago, young Australian jazz pianist Barney McAll was a member of the great Dewey Redman’s quartet. Here he reminisces about times with Dewey.
Interview with: Chris Cody, jazz pianist and composer
Interview by: Elaine Lewis
Chris Cody tells Elaine Lewis about his 21 years as a jazz pianist and band leader in Paris and what he has been doing since he returned with his wife and French children to Australia.
Some fine musicians come together to explore each other’s territory.
Written by: Mandy Stefanakis
Sometimes things that are complex can appear simple, but equally, there are some simple solutions to what seem intractable problems.
Written by: Anne Cawrse
The question Anne Cawrse is most often asked is ‘How did you become a composer?’ Well, here’s how, from its beginnings in an SA country town.
Written by: Stephen Mould
Vale John Haddock, a deep-thinking and occasionally defiant pianist, coach, composer, quintessential man of opera, searcher, colleague and friend.
Written by: Ronan Apcar
Although Holland wrote for everything – choirs to orchestras, chamber to solo – she flourished when writing for the piano and produced some very sophisticated works.
Written by: Richard Letts
Sound technicians for music venues need not only to know their equipment but also to have a deep knowledge of the music they are managing. Unless it’s rock or pop, in Sydney mostly they don’t.
Written by: Stephen Mould
The marked scores of master conductors have emerged as didactic and interpretative tools. We see how the performance styles of ten iconic conductors are reflected in their annotated scores and parts for Mozart’s Symphony No 41, K 551 (‘Jupiter’).
A broader look than usual at reasons for difficulties faced by women in jazz: a long history of male dominance among musicians and in the audience, women’s choice of instruments and number of instruments played, their presence on jazz recordings…
Written by: A NEW APPROACH
The purpose of this Analysis paper is to help the stakeholders (i.e. everyone) of a National Arts Culture and Creativity Plan prepare to be part of its development. This participation will give the Plan the greatest likelihood of buy-in and success.
Written by: Chris Gibson and Andrew Warren
…convincing guitarists to switch to instruments made from sustainable materials is difficult: “Musicians, who represent some of the most savvy, ecologically minded people around, are resistant to anything about changing the tone of their guitars”.
Australian Honours are awarded by the nation in recognition of valuable contributions by individual citizens to their country. They are our version of ‘knighthoods’ and are decided by a special committee managed by the office of the Governor General. The majority of…
Written by: Oliver Hinton
Music making with others, whether singing or playing an instrument, is a fabulous way of building social connections and enhancing wellbeing, especially in communities that might not otherwise meet together frequently.
Lotti’s experiences studying in the USA – and in coming home during COVID.
Written by: Mark Selkrig, Kim Keamy, Sharon McDonough, Amanda Belton and Robyn Brandenburg
Teacher educators referred to the “increasing control” and a perception that we are undermined in our work by the “constant critiques that suggest low standards and that we don’t care about the profession”.
Written by: Chris Hickey
The crowding of the curriculum is not an issue. We should shift the focus to the quality of the learning experience, and how we can best nurture productive interactions between teachers and students.
Written by: Richard Colledge
The Job-Ready Graduates Package is nearing the end of its first full semester of implementation. Its basic premise is that the main reason the modern Australian university exists is to train the next generation in areas of economic need. “Universities must teach…
200 studies: the benefits of music & music education By Oli Braithwaite This article records, summarises and categorises in over 200 studies, many non-musical benefits associated with music education and listening to music in general. In compiling these studies, we identified…
Artist/s: David Greco (baritone), Van Dieman’s Band led by Julie Fredersdorff
Category: Classical, Early Music
Label: Digital and CD, ABC Classic ABC 481 9896
Reviewed by John Weretka
“An intense exploration of suffering and Weltschmerz in Bach’s cantatas and arias for solo bass.”
Artist/s: Luke Carbon. Stuart Byrne, Luke Carbon, Natasha Fearnside, Robin Henry (bass clarinets), Thea Rossen (vibraphone). Works by Andy Akiho, Robert Davidson, David Lang, Tim Hansen, Ryan Walsh, Steve Reich.
Category: Classical, New Music
Label: Digital, Made Now Music. Free streaming, or download for purchase.
Reviewed by Adam Jeffrey
“An impressive debut album from clarinettist Luke Carbon and colleagues, performing contemporary Australian and American works featuring the bass clarinet.”
Artist/s: Ron S Peno and the Superstitions. Ron S. Peno (vocals), Cam Butler (guitars/sampling/processing), Mark Dawson (drums/percussion), Tim Deane (piano/electric piano/Hammond organ), Andy Papadopolous (electric bass/double bass). Produced by Cam Butler.
Category: Contemporary, Rock
Label: Independent (SE001CD)
www.ronspenoandthesuperstitions.bandcamp.com
Reviewed by Noel Mengel
“Times are hard, life is fragile, each day is precious. And songs and records as good as this can give us the strength to keep on keeping on.’’
Artist/s: Artists: Alexander Voltz (concept, composer, librettist), Michelle Carey (director), Bradley Voltz (conductor, music director, piano), Susan Ellis (soprano), Catherine Upton (soprano), Stuart Quill (narrator), Wayne Brennan (concertmaster), Nicholas Thin (violin), Raquel Bastos (viola), Dominic Fitzgerald (cello), Thomas Crilly (double bass), Jessica Walther (flute/piccolo), Cathy Simmers (clarinet/bass clarinet), Rebecca Meimaris (percussion)
Category: Music Live, Opera
Location, Date: Performance: St Rita’s College, Brisbane, 8th July 2021
Reviewed by Jenna Robertson
“Despite challenges with the concept and libretto, the two-act chamber opera Edward and Richard: The True Story of the Princes in the Towerby Brisbane-born young composer Alexander Voltz (b. 1999) demonstrates exciting potential and ability in writing music for the theatre. His score is the highlight of this piece.”
Artist/s: Riley Lee & Enigma Quartet. Riley Lee (shakuhachi), Marianne Broadfoot (violin), Kerry Martin (violin), Elizabeth Woolnough (viola), Rowena Macneish (cello). Works commissioned or selected from Ross Edwards, Stuart Greenbaum, Anne Boyd, Holly Harrison, Andrew Howes, Lachlan Skipworth, Katy Abbott, Gerard Brophy, David Hirschfelder, Elena Kats-Chernin.
Category: Classical, New Music
Label: ABC Classics Digital ABC 0028948179985
https://www.abcmusic.com.au/discography/five-elements-enigma-quartet
Reviewed by Mandy Stefanakis
“The central focus of the five natural elements is beautifully sustained across the diverse pieces in this collection, through the meticulous attention to every precious sound by Riley Lee and the Enigma Quartet.”
Artist/s: Joseph Tawadros (oud / composition), James Tawadros (riqq / bendir), Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey. Works by Tawadros, some arranged by Wells, Buckley, Barker, or Tognetti.
Category: Classical, Middle Eastern, New Music
Label: ABC Classic 481 9241
Reviewed by Kevin Bonnett
“It is the force of Joseph Tawadros’ personality as much as his skill and virtuosity, let alone the clear vision of his artistry and purpose, that drives the richness and appeal of his compositions and performance. The music of Joseph Tawadros is both powerful and memorable in lasting ways.”
Artist/s: An Opera Queensland production featuring; Jeremy Kleeman, Sofia Troncoso, Josê Carbó, Eva Kong, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Hayley Sugars, Jud Arthur, Bradley Daley, Samuel Piper and Irena Lysiuk. Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dane Lam.
Category: Music Live
Location, Date: Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane, July 29, 2021
Reviewed by Alex Raineri
“Opera Queensland’s Marriage of Figaro in a few words? Uplifting, stylish, engaging.”
Artist/s: Origami. Adam Simmons (alto sax/bass clarinet), Howard Cairns (double bass), Hugh Harvey (drums), plus Noah Simmons (drums)
Category: Jazz
Label: Fat Rain FAT014.
http://www.fatrain.bandcamp.com
Reviewed by Ian Muldoon
“It was when I realised I could make mistakes that I realised I was really on to something.” Ornette Coleman
Artist/s: Michael Kieran Harvey (piano), Graeme Lee (prints), Arjun von Caemmerer (aphorisms)
Category: Classical, Musical interpretation, New Music
Label: Label: MOVE MD3453
CD purchase: http://www.move.com.au/disc/michael-kieran-harvey-graeme-lee-prints
Reviewed by Philip Pogson
“Piano Sonata #6 impresses as a significant addition to the 21st century solo piano literature. If it were a novel, one would say that it has a coherent, compelling narrative.”
Artist/s: Steve Arié and the Arié Awards. Steve Arié (alto sax/double bass), Paul Cutlan (bass clarinet), Abel Cross (double bass), Nic Cecire (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Artist release.
www.stevearie.com.au
Reviewed by Gavin Franklin
“After thirty years of performing and recording as a bass player, Steve Arié decided it was time to make a recording of his compositions playing alto saxophone. The outcome of this switch is heard on Quirks.”
Author: Michael Hooper
Category: Musicology
New York (NY): Bloomsbury Academic, 2019, 306 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-5013-4818-1 (Hardback). Also available as an ePDF and as an eBook
Reviewed by Michael Hannan
“This book provides a well-researched and often fascinating account of the compositional practices and the historical, cultural and philosophical contexts and issues surrounding “modernist” classical music in Australia in the period 1960-1975.”