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Work

Mirage (duos: piccolo, percussion)

by Michael Sollis (2012)

Audio Sample

Performance by Michael Askill, Kiri Sollis from the CD Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 30.

Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 30.

Non-Commercial

This item is not commercially available from the Australian Music Centre. We regret that we cannot offer it for sale.

CD

Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 30.

Library shelf no. CD 2424 [Available for loan]

Work Overview

Inspired by images of the Australian desert. First featured in a concert celebrating the works of Manning Clark at the National Portrait Gallery. Later featured as part of The Griffyn Ensemble's Cloudy With a Chance of Rain, with the following introduction from former weatherman and geomorphologist Rob Gell:

It gets hot in Marble Bar in the Pilbara of Western Australia. Back in 1923, on the 31st October, the temperature hit the "century" - 37.8 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It did it again for the next 159 days until April 7th in 1924 - a world record heatwave.

The highest temperature during the spell was 47 and a half on January 18th 1924. Back in 1905 it had been hotter with 49.2 on the 11th January. They had 49.2 on the 3rd January in 1922 as well.

Mardie, also in Western Australia reached 50.5 in February 1998. Oodnadatta in South Australia was 50.7 in January 1960. That's our hottest ever.

On average, Marble Bar experiences 154 days above 37.8°C each year.

In Queensland, Longreach can get hot too but warming with climate change is expected to be strong there. Currently they average 17 days each year of 40 degrees or more. They expect 54 by 2030 and by 2070, 155 days each year over 40 degrees. 155 days of shimmering relentless heat. Imagine yourself, trapped, chasing mirages, shimmering in the distance.

Involves acting on behalf of the two players - a 'chase scene'. Instructions are included on the score, and is apparent in the music.

Work Details

Year: 2012

Instrumentation: Piccolo, percussion.

Duration: 10 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Commission note: Commissioned by Canberra International Music Festival.

First performance: by Kiri Sollis, Michael Askill at Sounding the NPG (National Portrait Gallery) on 11 May 2012

The composer notes the following subjects, genres, styles etc. associated with this work:
Manning Clark, weather, climate change, performance art, Doctor Who, Voss,

Subjects

Performances of this work

1 Sep 2022: at Australian Series (National Museum of Australia). Featuring CSO Chamber Players.

12 Aug 2012: at Cloudy With a Chance of Rain (The Griffyn Ensemble) - Canberra (National Gallery of Australia). Featuring Griffyn Ensemble.

11 Aug 2012: at Cloudy With a Chance of Rain (The Griffyn Ensemble) - Albury (Albury Library Museum). Featuring Griffyn Ensemble.

10 Aug 2012: at Cloudy With a Chance of Rain (The Griffyn Ensemble) - Bendigo (Discovery Science and Technology Centre (Bendigo)). Featuring Griffyn Ensemble.

9 Aug 2012: at Cloudy With a Chance of Rain (The Griffyn Ensemble) - Melbourne (National Gallery of Victoria International). Featuring Griffyn Ensemble.

11 May 2012: at Sounding the NPG (National Portrait Gallery). Featuring Kiri Sollis, Michael Askill.

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