Image: ‘Cymatic Flower’ by Linden Gledhill
Halcyon has been performing stellar programs for twenty one years, full of rare and eclectic works from Australia and around the globe. It has commissioned, premiered and presented more than 250 works from over 15 countries, developed long relationships with composers and institutions both here and abroad and featured ever-changing combinations of more than a hundred seasoned and emerging chamber music performers in intimate settings. While every concert is a fresh experience, the consistent craftsmanship and careful curation of each event remains a hallmark.
In Nature, on October 12 at 8pm, is no exception and definitely one not to miss! The program features four world premieres by Larry Sitsky, Elena Kats Chernin, Melissa Hui and Madeleine Isaksson, the Australian premiere of Andrew Ford’s new song cycle, Nature and Matthew Hindson’s engaging Insect Songs, (also featured on our latest EP release Waves IV).
The works, drawn from three continents and relationships old and new, feature texts and poetry from Australia, the UK, Finland, Sweden, France, Japan and China. Jenny will be joined by a fantastic line up of artists: flautist Sally Walker, cellist Geoffrey Gartner, guitarist Vladimir Gorbach, percussionist Tim Brigden with tabla player Maharshi Raval and soprano Jane Sheldon.
Andrew Ford’s new song cycle Nature, is a delicately wrought and thoughtful exploration of the natural world. The composer has drawn together eight diverse texts to create a through-composed work of great sensitivity. The unusual palette of instruments - flute, cello, guitar, tabla, percussion and voice - creates subtle shades of colour that draw you deeply into his imaginings. Co-commissioned for Halcyon and soloists and ensembles in Stockholm, Oslo and Dublin, it premiered in Sweden earlier this month. Together with renowned tabla player Maharshi Raval, Halcyon will present the Australian premiere before further European performances in October and November.
Commissioned by flautist Sally Walker and dedicated to Dr Philip Spradbery, the renowned entomologist, CSIRO scientist and passionate environmental advocate, Elena Kats-Chernin’s Moondust is a wordless reverie for voice, flute, cello and vibraphone; drones and gently mesmerising melodies interweaving over shimmering percussive chords.
Soprano Jane Sheldon joins Halcyon for the premiere of Swedish-born French-resident Madeleine Isaksson’s Blad över blad. Written to a bilingual poem of the composer’s own devising, this is another piece of subtle colouration which blurs the line between voice and instrument, the two languages and three instruments branching across each other continually so, in the composer’s words, their timbres ‘melt together’.
Canadian composer Melissa Hui’s works featured in Halcyon’s very first concert series in 2001. For the concert, she has transformed two of her aptly named songs - Snowflakes and Nature - for Halcyon, adapting them into chamber works for voice, flute, cello, guitar and vibraphone, giving both composer and performer the opportunity to reconnect with them and each other after so many years.
Larry Sitsky, whose extraordinary song cycle, A Feast of Lanterns II features on Halcyon’s latest release, Waves IV and who celebrated his 85th birthday this month, is featured in a brief and soulful duo, The Bamboo Flute, composed recently for Jenny and flautist Sally Walker.
With outstanding works by Matthew Hindson, Hilary Tann, Nigel Butterley and Cathy Milliken also on the program, don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in another fantastic evening with Halcyon.
Date: Saturday 12 October at 8pm
Venue: Summer Hill Church, 2 Henson St Summer Hill
Tickets: $40/25 through Classikon
Enquiries: info@halcyon.org.au
PROGRAM
Catherine Milliken Kazuko adapted by the composer from Earth Plays, Movement III: Gohyaku-Rakan (2015)
Larry Sitsky The bamboo flute from Two Songs of Li-Po (2016) WP
Elena Kats-Chernin Moondust (2019) WP
HilaryTann Llef (1995)
Madeleine Isaksson Blad över blad/Feuille sur feuille (2000) WP
Matthew Hindson Insect Songs (1998)
Melissa Hui 2 songs on poems from Longfellow (1988/2019)
Nigel Butterley Nature changes (2014)
Andrew Ford Nature (2019) AP
WP World premiere
AP Australian premiere
Artists
Jenny Duck-Chong mezzo-soprano, artistic director
Jane Sheldon soprano
Sally Walker flutes
Geoffrey Gartner cello
Vladimir Gorbach guitar
Tim Brigden percussion
Maharshi Raval tabla