New Futures, Deep resonance, Multiple perspectives (NDM)
Creators: name: Tomlinson, Vanessa
Publisher: name: Griffith University
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: 190407 Music Performance
subject: FOS: Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music)

description: <em>New Futures, Deep resonance, Multiple perspectives (NDM)</em> presents three new percussive works by Australian composers from three different generations; Elizabeth Jigalin, Vanessa Tomlinson and Michael Askill. All 3 composers are inter-tangled within the ecology of Australian percussion performance - Liz was inspired to be a composer in high school after listening to a Michael Askill composition, Vanessa's obsession with the sound of pencil and paper further inspired Liz, Vanessa has been a fan of Michael's playing, composition and curation for decades, and Michael and Vanessa have worked together presenting Australian Percussion Gathering, 1000 Gongs, co-directing Early Warning System and many other projects over the years. In NDM, we propose the intersecting sound worlds of the past, present and future in three world premieres listed below. Bent Metal (2022) by <strong>Vanessa Tomlinson</strong> (b. 1971) This composition is a revisiting of the Solo Series (2019) produced for the Australian Art Orchestra. I have always been fascinated by the pitch of found objects, and the way in which our ears learn to accept new arrangements of pitch material. In Bent Metal, the vibraphone soundworld is extended to include ceramic bowls, wooden planks, mixing bowls, bottles and Sichuan Opera cymbals on the one side, and water with Indian bells on the other. Together this sound world contorts the pitch world of the vibraphone, bending it into a seemingly fluid set of frequencies. Starting and ending on the orchestral tuning pitch A – 440, this work expands and contracts around different centres. <br> Alphabet Soup – for an alphabet of everyday objects (2022) <strong>Elizabeth Jigalin</strong> (b 1994) Alphabet Soup is a sound piece for 26 pocket-sized, everyday objects. This piece is a personal and playful ecosystem of sound for Vanessa to explore. Throughout Alphabet Soup, Vanessa completes a series of busy activities that consider the different ways we can categorise and sound a noisy palette of objects. It was important to me that the ‘everyday things’ featured in this piece represented a variety of object qualities, interactions and possibilities - ranging from their size, colour, and sound to the curious memories they might hold for Vanessa, myself and treasured listeners. <br> Particles (2022) by <strong>Michael Askill</strong> (b 1952), performed with Thomas O'Kelly Particles was composed at the request of Professor Vanessa Tomlinson for a performance at PASIC 2022 in Indianapolis. Movement 1. (Solo) uses fragments (particles) of earlier quartet compositions - Lemurian Dances (1990) and Spirals (2001). Movement 2. is an improvised electronic track made by creating feedback with my studio mixer. The performer is invited to respond and improvise with the electronic sounds using instruments from the 1st Movement. Movement 3. (Interlude) reflects on the music of J.S. Bach and Andrei Tarkovsky's film Solaris, directly quoting the chorale, Ich ruf zu dir, Herr which was used in the film. Movement 4. (Duet) acts as a coda to the Bach chorale using fragments (particles) of Lemurian Dances. This work is co-commissioned by Thomas O’Kelly (QLD), Dr Louise Devenish – Monash University (Vic) and Mr Tim White (WA).