Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Three world premieres by Australian composers - two song cycles, and one instrumental trio.

A man loses faith in first world systems - offered boundless choice, yet controlled by guilt. He enters a surreal state of folded self and memory where reality seems optional. Fleeing through cold darkness in an animal avatar, he arrives at a place of torment and enlightenment

Hourglass Beach

"I want to let the shining light of truth penetrate where only dark shadows and poisonous derision reigned. I'm recording the history of liberation from traditional, inherited slavery by a clear mirage of true freedom of the soul" We're 100 years on from the words of the Polish composer, Karol Szymanowski. The quest for truth, light, and freedom are ongoing, against a different kind of slavery, perhaps of our own devising. In Andrew Kennedy's new song cycle in seven movements, Hourglass Beach, a man loses faith in the system of the first world. First he was offered boundless choice, and now he is compelled by guilt into fixing his naïve sins. In an act of desperation or insanity, he enters a surreal and rapturous state where reality is in question and he folds onto himself and his memories. Inhabiting an animal avatar, fleeing through cold darkness, unknowingly, he arrives at a place of either torment, or enlightenment - Hourglass Beach.

The Hourglass Ensemble plays with a unique spirit and honesty. As musicians they focus beyond technique, tell you a story and bring you beauty. You will be carried with them across the Aboriginal song lines to the lakes inhabited by wood ducks in Peter Sculthorpe's DreamTracks. The blazing passion of Poland will be on show in a masterpiece for the piano by Bacewicz, and Porebski's mystical Orient Bis for solo flute. Finally, the depths of darkness of the human imagination are explored in Marge Smith's raw, profound premiere song cycle, White Shadows.

Performers: Ewa Kowalski - flutes; Beata Stanowski - violin; Andrew Kennedy - clarinets/artistic director; Suzi Stengel - soprano; Andrew O'Connor - baritone; Gregory Kinda - piano

Featured non-Australian music: Adam Porebski, Orient Bis for solo flute; Grazyna Bacewicz, piano sonata number two

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on 0438 787 338 or by email to drewkennedy@hotmail.com

Featured Australian Works

Featured artists

• New work by Andrew Kennedy
• Performer Suzi Stengel
• Performer Andrew O'Connor
• Performer Ewa Kowalski
• Performer Gregory Kinda
• Performer Beata Stanowski