Reviewed by Alan Holley, Classikon, April 2025
Halcyon | How Far We’ve Come Together
Jenny Duck-Chong mezzo–soprano Geoffrey Gartner cello
CD release by Halcyon on 24 March 2025
Those who follow the creation of new vocal music in Australia know of the great contribution of Jenny Duck-Chong and cellist Geoffrey Gartner in premiering new works. Both have been active for several decades now, building the foundations for other performers to follow and for composers to have a beacon in front of them. Halcyon is directed by mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong and this new CD is a testament to her extraordinary dedication to all around her in the sphere of contemporary vocal music and with other chamber musicians.
The line-up of composers on this CD reads like a list of important composers who have been known for a good while and a few newer names still gathering the recognition factor. Larry Sitsky’s Two Songs on a C-Pedal (2020) is a delight both as a composition and the charming performance it received. Sitsky delves into the text by Christopher Brennan creating a brooding first song before dancing off in the second. Truly a favourite. I hope the radio programmers take note of this little gem.
The title of the album comes from the David Malouf poem Stars set by Brad Taylor-Newling.
How far, how far we’ve come
together, tumbling like stars
in harness or alone.
As you would expect from one of our leading creative writers, Malouf’s poem inspires Taylor-Newling to write music that dwells on the passage of time.
Short works by Kate Reid and Michael Berkeley are pleasantly light in character whilst well-known composers Nicola LeFanu and Andrew Schultz both chose to inhabit music of a more somber nature.
The opening track My Sorrow’s Flower by Gordon Kerry is dramatic at times then ethereal and always engaging.
The performing artists on this CD are completely in tune with each other’s approach to the music. Gartner supports, takes the lead or explores the various colours available to the cello.
Duck-Chong brings to life the texts and music and there seems to be a joy in the music-making that leaps out of the speakers!
Alan Holley
This review first appeared in Classikon on 7 April, 2025