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Australia's longest-running classical music label
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A Sympathetic Resonance
Classical guitar music by Australian composers
featuring Peter Constant with Marion Schaap (guitar), Mardi McSullea (flute) and Helen Noonan (soprano)
Much has been said about the explosion of activity in every aspect of the classical guitar in this country over the last decade — this CD is a sampling of a wide range of Australian guitar music put together by an Australian on an Australian made instrument. Borrowing its title from Mark Pollard's beautiful work 'A Sympathetic Resonance', acclaimed guitarist Peter Constant has compiled a personal view of the guitar presented through music by Australian composers with whom he has enjoyed some kind of (sympathetic) working relationship. All of the works were written with the guitar's unique voice very much in mind. Many of the pieces make full use of the instruments natural resonances and all of the music explores colourisitc or contextual characteristics peculiar to the guitar. Some of the pieces were inspired by the guitar itself such as Pluck it! by Gerard Brophy. Some were inspired by the music of past composers such as Richard Charlton's 'Valses Melodique' and Donald Hollier's 'Prelude, Book 1, #3'. And some were inspired by the Australian landscape and heritage including Phillip Houghton's 'Rain', 'Wildflower ' and Mark Pollard's "Matilda's Song" from 'Matilda's Dream' for guitar, flute (Mardi McSullea) and soprano (Helen Noonan). Also includes a piece entitled 'Prelude No. 1' by Richard Vella and a piece for guitar duo by Mark Viggiani, entitled Black Cat Tango, which Peter performs on this CD with his Z.O.O. Duo partner (and wife), Marion Schaap. Peter Constant is one of the new breed of fine young guitarists this country has produced in recent years, with a solo performing career extending to Italy, America and Holland as well as to capital cities and regional centres of this country. He performs as half of the Z.O.O. Duo - a guitar duo with Marion Schaap. He is a founding member of Guitar Trek - a four person guitar troupe "trekking" all over Australia, Asia and U.S.A. to perform. They recently returned from a tour for Musica Viva, which saw them play in Tasmania, Queensland, NSW, Adelaide, Perth and the Northern Territory. Peter has recorded five CDs, including four on the Move label; and is Head of Guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts. Press quotes:
“something that is far from the ordinary ... Australian composers can boast of a highly effective interpreter in Peter Constant ... he is totally in command of the material. His playing displays a comprehensive palette of expression and color ...”
— James Reid, Guitar Foundation of America Track Listing:
Rain (Houghton)
just a moment (Pollard) one sweet moment (Pollard) in the heat of the moment (Pollard) Prelude no.1 (Vella) Wildflower (Houghton) Pluck it! (Brophy) Valses Melodique (Charlton) Black Cat Tango (Viggiani) Prelude, Book 1 #3 in G (homage to Chopin) (Hollier) "Matilda's Song" (Pollard) A Sympathetic Resonance (Pollard) Catalogue Number: MCD105
Price: AU$26.00
(convert to $US)
A Sympathetic Resonance can be purchased through Buywell Just Classical who offer secure on-line ordering. |
 Featured Artists:
Helen Noonan is a Melbourne original. A trained actress. A trained singer. The striking feature of her work is its vocal and dramatic versatility which sees her playing roles from the straight operatic, such as Violetta in La Traviata; to contemporary operatic, as in Andre Greenwell’s Sweet Death; or in the stage musical - Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera for example - a role she has performed over 1000 times.
Currently teaching composition at the Victorian College of the Arts, Mark Pollard completed a Masters degree at La Trobe University and has been awarded several prizes. His works have been commissioned by Elision, Pipeline, the Astra Choir, the Australian Chamber Soloists and Michael Kieran Harvey, among others.
Mark Viggiani is a classical and contemporary guitarist and composer. He performs widely as a soloist and in various groups. His elegantly titled compositions, inspired by nature and spirituality have been performed by various groups, including Z.O.O. Duo and new music ensemble Sonance.
Peter is one of the new breed of fine young guitarists this country has produced in recent years, with a solo performing career extending to Italy, America and Holland as well as to capital cities and regional centres of this country. He performs as half of the Z.O.O. Duo - a guitar duo with Marion Schaap. He is a founding member of Guitar Trek - a four person guitar troupe “trekking” all over Australia, Asia and U.S.A. to perform. They recently returned from a tour for Musica Viva, which saw them play in Tasmania, Queensland, NSW, Adelaide, Perth and the Northern Territory. Peter has recorded five CDs, including two on the Move label; and is Head of Guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Philip Houghton was born in Melbourne in 1954, he studied guitar with Sebastian Jorgensen at Montsalvat in Eltham. As a guitarist he toured extensively and recorded with the ABC. In 1980 he decided to concentrate primarily on composition, and since then has written a number of pieces for dance and film. Many of his guitar sonatas appear in the AMEB syllabus and in the Benjamin Verdery Guitar Series for Frederick Harris Publishers. His music has been performed and recorded by leading musicians, including John Williams and Timothy Kain.
Z.O.O. Duo, an original, classical guitar duo, features talented guitarists Peter Constant and Marion Schaap, directors of guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts. Z.O.O. Duo’s programme includes duos and solos, often featuring original transcriptions and new compositions as well as more traditional repertoire. They have performed in the USA, Europe as well as Australia and have appeared frequently on national radio and television.
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