Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

Image: Luke Paulding at St Paul's Huddesfield, UK (larger view)  
© Mario Popham

In early 2013 ELISION had the pleasure and privilege of working with composer Luke Paulding. A European residency project funded through the IETM-Australia Council for the Arts Collaboration Project enabled us to commission and give performances of 'where dust is in their mouths and clay is their food'. A succession of concerts followed: Singapore's Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music; St Pauls at CeReNeM Huddersfield University in partnership with the Institute of Music Research London; and the National Concert Hall of Dublin. ELISION was to revisit this trio for a fourth time in 2016 at the Hellerau Centre for European Contemporary Arts, Dresden.

'where dust is in their mouths and clay is their food' (2012), composed for tenor trombone, flugelhorn and percussion, had some absolutely stunning and brilliant moments. I have never forgotten the sustained high melisma of the trombone in the opening bars, the debris-creating actions of percussionist Peter Neville as rice showered upon the floor, spilling out of the Chinese cymbals, or the virtuoso exchanges between the ELISION brass - Ben Marks and Tristram Williams.

Luke Paulding and ELISION trumpeter Tristram Williams in Huddersfield.

Photo © Mario Popham.

One of the pleasures of touring like this is the ability to provide a platform for significant and emerging Australian compositional talent. These opportunities are rare and hard fought for. Invaluable. Luke, however, was a natural and easy choice for this level of international exposure. In part because he had previously worked with core ELISION musicians Deborah Kayser and Tristram Williams on an absolutely stunning duo, the abundance of breath, and consequently the knowledge, familiarity and relationship building was in place. (ELISION was to present a revised version of this piece as part of a suite of concerts given by the ensemble at Carriageworks in Sydney, 2014). But, further than this, his capabilities and musical imagination argued decisively for commitment, support and engagement.

Around this period of time Luke was to write another duo, Jupiter Dreaming for musicians connected with ELISION - Peter Neville once more and saxophonist Joshua Hyde, a fellow student and colleague of Luke's.

Concert activity and touring are little universes in their own right. They bring into play an intense set of energies. And as always music and celebration go hand in hand - food, laughter, and the sheer delight in gathering and being together. I am grateful that ELISION and myself were able to share these times with Luke.

> Luke Paulding - AMC profile.