BY CUTCOMMON
In October, the Melbourne Recital Centre is opening its doors to “the magical, the ethereal, the demonic”. You’re invited along for the ride, if you’re brave enough. (That show in particular is with Duo Eclettico: their music was inspired by a woman who once lived in Kings Cross, and who made art that was banned by the Australian government for its “overt sexuality”.)
We’ve teamed up with the folks at the Melbourne Recital Centre to handpick some of the most exciting events of the month for classical and art music lovers. From cinematic music with Cam Butler (pictured below) to a brand-new commission from Brenda Gifford, here’s what you can look forward to.
Latitude 37 — Meditations
Nothing can send you into the past like early music. Sure, things may have changed since the 1600s — instrument, interpretation, tuning. But we can choose to feel immersed in the melodies of another time, and imagine what life might have felt like to those who once practised the very same notes.
Then again, it’s great to stay tuned to our own era and culture in music, too — and Latitude 37 is bringing you the best of both worlds. In Meditations, the trio will play music from the 17th Century as well as a piece of music that Australian composer-pianist Luke Howard wrote for them. Throw in some Nico Muhly and you’re in for a ripper show.
Julia Fredersdorff will present the pieces on baroque violin; she’s no stranger to music of this time, having founded the Van Diemen’s Band. “Baroque music was designed to move audiences, and to inspire real emotional reactions,” Julia reckons. Then there’s Laura Vaughan — one of Australia’s leading viola da gamba players (don’t miss the opportunity to hear that instrument when you can!). Donald Nicolson will play two of the most aurally opposed instruments: harpsichord and organ. And away you go in the Primrose Potter Salon, listening to Slow Twitchy Organs (Muhly) and The Things That Bind Us (Howard).
Cam Butler & His Orchestra — Strings Music
Cam Butler is a guitarist and composer from Melbourne. He has 10 solo albums behind him, and you’ll watch him launch his newest one in the Melbourne Recital Centre. It’s called Strings Music, and he wrote every track on the album. He also has an ensemble playing with him, and it’s made up of electric and acoustic string instruments and percussion.
While it’s an album launch, it’s also an exercise in visual art: there will be projections that accompany Cam’s own soundworld. You might even have heard some of the tracks before; the album draws from his back catalogue of compositions and includes titles such as We Will Survive and In a Lifetime.
Here’s a preview of what you’re getting, and it could rival the scores to an old Western or modern cinematic journey alike.
Gryphon Baryton Trio — Haydn Baryton Trios
Remember Laura Vaughan — the viola da gamba player who will perform in Latitude 37 — Meditations? It’s a busy month for this musician, because she’s also performing with the Gryphon Baryton Trio and will be on the instrument of its namesake: baryton. This rare one is from the Classical period, and Lauren will use it to play works by Haydn: four baryton trios, to be precise.
While this instrument is the centrepiece of the program, you’ll be excited to learn that Katie Yap and Josephine Vains are playing as well. Katie is that bursting-with-talent violist who took out the 2022 Freedman Classical Fellowship. She’s an artistic director, too — Wattleseed Ensemble and the 3MBS Women in Music Festival are a couple of her impressive stints in this area. Josephine Vains is a cellist with a special interest in chamber music; she’s a founder of the Firebird Trio and has performed with Melbourne Baroque Orchestra and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra — so who better to perform the role in this trio?
Nat Bartsch — Hope Renewed
Nat Bartsch’s name might ring a bell and all its beautiful overtones: we had a chat with her earlier this year about her work with Hush, where she composes and curates music to help women feel calm in medical settings. This absolute powerhouse of an artist (think twice ARIA nominated) will revisit her album Hope and breathe fresh life into it through piano, synth, and electronics — not to mention the other instruments that will be on stage. Those instruments include guitar (performed by Robbie Melville), double bass (Tamara Murphy), drums (Maddison Carter), and harp (special guest Mary Doumany).
Have a listen to the backstory of Hope Renewed, and hear a preview of some of these ambient themes before the show.
Brenda Gifford & Ensemble Offspring — Wadhu/Skin
Earlier this year, First Nations Yuin woman Brenda Gifford was awarded the Merlyn Myer Music Commission. It was a huge deal — the Melbourne Recital Centre facilitates the commission to give an Australian female-identifying composer “creative freedom” to craft a new piece of music, then have it performed and recorded.
Brenda’s piece that arose from the commission is called Wadhu/Skin, and you can hear its world premiere in the Primrose Potter Salon. Brenda’s own nephew Joe McLeod will play didgeridoo and clap stick while chamber players from Ensemble Offspring will perform on other acoustic instruments led by percussionist and artistic director Claire Edwardes.
Brenda told the Melbourne Recital Centre: “The piece I have created is interwoven with spoken word in language, and using language is important to me as it gives voice to our peoples and culture. My goal is to express our connection to each other as people; to our ancestors and to kin and Yuin country.”
In addition to this world premiere, the players will present music from Ross Edwards, Christopher Sainsbury, and another piece from Brenda — Mungala.
Duo Eclettico — Magic
We all know that music = magic. In this instance, the magic is conjured through the lyrical voice of a saxophone (Justin Kenealy), evocative chords of piano (Coady Green), and passionate pulse of percussion (Peter Neville). They will play one of the most variety-filled programs we’ve seen, which Duo Eclettico describes as celebrating “the magical, the ethereal, the demonic, and the ‘other'”.
There’s an interesting story behind that description and it comes in the form of a world premiere. Australian composer Caerwen Martin wrote a piece of music for Duo Eclettico called The Witch of Kings Cross, and it’s a true story about a woman who practised magic and whose artworks were burnt. This was in mid-century Australia, by the way: Rosaleen Norton was her name, and her art “was banned and prohibited by the Australian government for its overt sexuality and focus on non-traditional beliefs”.
This full-on program also features South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr’s Necromancer, and Australian composer Ross Edwards’ Full Moon Dances.
Check out these October concerts and more on the Melbourne Recital Centre website.
Images supplied. Cam Butler credit Haley Rose.
