“Some of Australia’s finest singers, songwriters, composers and instrumentalists have collaborated with young children to create a work of wonder.”
This is a beautiful project. Some of Australia’s finest singers, songwriters, composers and instrumentalists have collaborated with young children to create a work of wonder.
The Hush Foundation, established in 2000 by Dr. Catherine Crock, works with young patients, families and healthcare professionals to transform the culture of healthcare through the arts. Through the use of music, theatre, literature Hush provides comfort and education to those within the medical profession and to children and families.
With two theatrical plays about healthcare, fifteen musical albums and a children’s book, Hush transforms the environment of the operating theatre and recovery rooms through the use of especially composed music from some of Australia’s foremost musicians and composers. The music helps evoke a sense of calm and optimism. It is now played in hospitals, homes and shared spaces across the globe.
For the past decade, The Hush Foundation has been one of the largest commissioners of independent music in Australia, winning awards and accolades for their contribution to the music industry. Historically, the Hush collection has focused on classical music with Australia’s most well known and loved composers, conductors and orchestras donating their time and talent to produce albums.
Hush 16, A Piece of Quiet is a new and exciting addition to the collection. Inspired by young cancer patients and other children, Lior, The Idea of North and Elena Kats-Chernin consulted children aged between four and twelve seeking guidance and inspiration for the lyrics of the thirteen works on this delightful album. Questions posed about their lives elicited responses filled with humour, wonder and wisdom with a good dash of the quirkiness that makes it very clear that the originators of these words are genuinely children. What adult would write these lyrics?
‘I love being a kid. I love being young and I do like acting like a slug.’
‘And I like that children are allowed to pick noses, but adults aren’t.’ (Edgar, age 6)
And
‘I think one of my main talents is laughing and annoying my brother.’ (George, aged 8)
It’s to their credit that the creative team behind A Piece Of Quiet did not try to iron out the whimsical and quirky elements of what the children said in deference to adult logic and that the songwriting and instrumental accompaniments reflect the lyrics so charmingly.
Lior is a sweet singer with a very truthful and genuine delivery. The Idea Of North, one of Australia’s foremost a cappella groups are backing vocalists to die for. They are joined on this album by many excellent studio musicians as well as the Sydney Children’s Choir and The Goldner String Quartet. The spoken word prose pieces by children accompanied by compositions by Elena Kats-Chernin are very touching.
Finding My Brave – by Josh, aged 8:
I imagine it as a big, dark faceless creature with muscles
it tries to scare me and take over my body.
But it doesn’t know I am a superhero.
I may look weak on the outside but inside I am as strong as steel
It may try to take my hair
It may try to take my appetite
But it can never take my ability to be happy.
And while I don’t like needles,
I know it hurts the creature more than me.
I see the creature shrinking
while I am growing stronger
so needles don’t really scare me.
One day I’ll be the one
Who haunts the faceless creature.
I’ll be strong enough to frighten them
Right out of my body
And since I have found my brave
I know that day
Can’t be very far away.
Hush has two album launch events – the world premiere in Sydney (15/11) and the Melbourne premiere (24/11). This is your chance to hear A Piece of Quiet live. Details on the Hush website : http://www.hush.org.au/
VIEW AND LISTEN
The Making of Hush 16 – A Piece Of Quiet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOUQfEpMX3c
