Alison Morgan, Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra, Sadaharu Muramatsu - Empty Shells (Pedro Oliviera)

from Kammerklang: Alpha by Kammerklang

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Peter McNamara's percussion concerto The Styx, written for solo percussionist and chamber orchestra. Originally premiered by Claire Edwardes and Kammerklang in 2009. [Digital download score]

Cover Art by Luke Moseley.

Includes unlimited streaming of The Styx (Peter McNamara) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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about

In the composition of this piece the main aim was to further increase the emotional impact of the text at any cost. As a result the syllables of words are sometimes separated and rearranged in a different order and melodic contours often distort the vowels. The volume, length and pitch of a note can reduce a word into an unfamiliar sound and occasionally the ensemble smothers the voice in similar colours or uncompromising textures, removing its soloistic identity. The ensemble picks up on the playfulness, cynicism and uncertainty of the text in the overlapping and sometimes abrupt juxtaposition of jaunty unison rhythms, bizarre harmonies and long expressivo melodic lines.

Composer Bio: Peggy Oliveira (b.1987)

Pedro Oliveira Woolmer graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Composition) degree with first class honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music after studying with Damien Ricketson, Trevor Pearce and most recently with Nigel Butterley. In 2008 he worked on a collaborative project with a local artist, combining his five-movement work, Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola and Guitar, with five associated paintings based heavily on deities of mythology.

Pedro is also an accomplished pianist, winning a number of competitions and playing in gala concerts across the state. Currently he spends most of his time teaching piano.

lyrics

Soul Food
by Vanessa Yeoman

Empty shells crumble into dust

Young and full of beans
Juicy pods on the vine
Not yet ripe
They swing in the breeze
Force fed with sunlight
Energy to grow up wholesome
Well adjusted
But their roots are buried in the darkness
Buried in the blood and bone

The seasons pass
The vine sags with the weight of them
Jostling for room in the fading winter light
They look at the vine
Its delicate tendrils
Its soft velvet hairs
Such fragility
Such weakness
And they wonder
How it holds them there

The wild wind blows
They hear a creaking
There something lies
A solid trellis hidden in the leaves
To which the weak vine clings
They want to break away
But that is to be broken
Back and forth they swing
As freedom blows by
Leaving nothing but a chill
And they wonder
Whose plot is this?

With heavy hearts
Ripe for the reaping
They wait
And they wonder
Who is their soul food for?

Empty shells

credits

from Kammerklang: Alpha, released January 29, 2013
Composer: Pedro Oliveira
Lyricist: Vanessa Yeoman
Solo Soprano: Alison Morgan
Sound Engineer: Jayson McBride
Conductor: Sadaharu Muramatsu

Recorded for Kammerklang Vox

KAMMERKLANG CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (2009-2010):

Flutes: Shaun Barlow, Owen Salome
Oboes: Toby Thatcher, Matt Bubb
Clarinets: Toby Armstrong, Peter Smith
Saxophones: Nathan Henshaw, Paul Zaborac
Bassoons: Jakab Kaufmann, Cameron Burnes
Horns: Seb Dunn, Kartini Suharto-Martin, Cindy Sims

Percussion: Daniel Luscombe, Morgan Merrell
Piano: Jacob Abela, Jack Symonds, Vatche Jambazian
Keyboard: Amy Bastow
Harp: Genevieve Lang, Verna Lee, Claire McDonogh, Maryanne Tucker

Violins: Justin Leong, Colin Tripolone, Carol Tang, Adam Wasiel, Davide Quincey, Ben Adler, Victor Wu, Liz Stanton, Klara Morrison, Michelle Blewett, Ting Lee
Violas: Tara Hashambhoy, John Faye, Luke Spicer, Dominic Meagher, James Wannan
Cellos: Julienne Guerbois, Emma Trevena, Anthony Albrecht, Lucy Price
Double Basses: James Menzies, Steven Adler, Elsen Price, Brigitte Wirfler, Brian Sim

license

about

Kammerklang Sydney, Australia

Kammerklang (German for “Chamber sound”) is an Australian arts company specialising in the collaboration of music and other artforms, focusing on the fusion of sound and the “chamber” or space it’s performed in. The aim of Kammerklang is to present and promote new artistic creation that is inquisitive, detailed and accessible while still fostering exploration and communication between the arts. ... more