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Work

After Nina, op. 73 : for clarinet in A, cello and piano

by Andrew Schultz (2007)

Score Sample

View a sample of the score of this work

Audio Sample

Performance by Endeavour Trio from the CD After Nina, Chamber suite, Magnificat

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Deep blue and dirty

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CD

Deep blue and dirty / chamber and vocal music by Andrew Schultz.

Library shelf no. CD 2602 [Available for loan]

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Work Overview

After Nina was composed in the first half of 2007 for the Endeavour Trio (Paul Dean, Trish O'Brien and Stephen Emmerson). It is a nine minute work which was written at the same time as my chamber opera, The Children's Bach. The work is a slow and lyrical study based around a pattern of low chords heard first in the piano.

The title and the mood of the piece refer to the Nina Simone version of the song, Strange Fruit with its sparse piano accompaniment. Strange Fruit is the anit-lynching civil rights song written in the 1930s by Abel Meeropol and then made famous by Billie Holiday.

 

'Southern trees bear a strange fruit,

Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,

Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.'

 

I have often been asked why it is the Nina Simone version of the song that interested me rather than the more well-known version by Billie Holiday. It is the relatively detached style of Simone's version - the limited use of overt emotionalism when dealing with a topic that so easily invites it. Whilst Simone does give vent towards the end her style is mostly sparse and allows the text to stand.

Work Details

Year: 2007

Instrumentation: Clarinet in A, cello, piano.

Duration: 9 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Written for: Paul Dean, Stephen Emmerson, Trish O'Brien

Commission note: Commissioned by Endeavour Trio.

First performance: by Endeavour Trio at Endeavour Trio (Government House (Sydney)) on 7 Dec 2008

Analysis

Website: Music and Emotion (incl. performance of "After Nina")
© ABC
What happens when you listen to music? What happens in your brain? What makes music sad, poignant or joyful? How easy is it as a composer to shape and extract emotional responses to particular compositions? In this conversation you’ll hear music and some interesting insights into composition and emotional response with Emma Ayres; Professor Andrew Schultz – composer and head of the school of Arts and the Media at UNSW and Associate Professor Emery Schubert.

Videos

After Nina

Source: UNSW Youtube channel

Performance of Andrew Schultz's "After Nina" by musicians of The Australia Ensemble at UNSW. Composed after listening to Nina Simone's rendition of "Strange Fruit".

 

Subjects

Performances of this work

7 Nov 2015: at The Glasshouse Trio (Eudlo Hall). Featuring Paul Dean, Stephen Emmerson, Louise King.

7 Nov 2015: at The Glasshouse Trio (Eudlo Hall). Featuring Stephen Emmerson, Louise King, Paul Dean.

25 May 2013: at Australia Ensemble in concert (Sir John Clancy Auditorium). Featuring Australia Ensemble.

16 Oct 2012: at Australian Voices - Andrew Schultz (Melbourne Recital Centre).

8 Jul 2012: at Selby & Friends: Magical miniatures (Turramurra Uniting Church). Featuring Catherine McCorkill, Catherine McCorkill, Julian Smiles.

7 Jul 2012: at Selby & Friends: Magical miniatures (Chevalier College Performing Arts Centre). Featuring Kathryn Selby, Catherine McCorkill, Julian Smiles.

4 Jul 2012: at Selby & friends (The Edge, Federation Square). Featuring Julian Smiles, Catherine McCorkill, Kathryn Selby.

3 Jul 2012: at Selby & Friends: Magical miniatures (City Recital Hall). Featuring Kathryn Selby, Julian Smiles, Catherine McCorkill.

2 Jul 2012: at Selby & friends (James O Fairfax Theatre). Featuring Kathryn Selby, Catherine McCorkill, Julian Smiles.

1 Jul 2012: at Selby & friends (Elder Hall). Featuring Catherine McCorkill, Kathryn Selby, Julian Smiles.

29 Jun 2012: at Selby & Friends: Magical miniatures (Springwood Civic Centre). Featuring Julian Smiles, Kathryn Selby, Catherine McCorkill.

Aug 09: Recorded by the ABC for ABC Live, Ferry Road Music Studios, Brisbane. Featuring Endeavour Trio.

7 Dec 2008: at Endeavour Trio (Government House (Sydney)). Featuring Endeavour Trio.

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