Phoenix Songs
Like the phoenix 'rising from the ashes', the recorder is presently enjoying somewhat of a renaissance itself. Six of Australia's well-known contemporary composers pair the recorder with piano, harpsichord, voice and live electronics.
David Corbet live electronics
Genevieve Lacey recorder
Ann Murphy harpsichord
Hartley Newnham vocals
Ros Bandt composer
Brenton Broadstock composer
Neil Currie composer
Ian Shanahan composer
Benjamin Thorn composer
The opening work, Brenton Broadstock's 'Aureole 3' is concerned with the dichotomy that exists between holy and unholy, good and evil, consonance and dissonance. Throughout, a fierce conflict between these opposing elements is fought out with harpsichord and recorder continually exchanging roles.
Amanda Baker's title piece 'Phoenix Songs' is an interplay of struggle between two forces: Robert Chamberlain's ethereal piano shimmers and thunderous outbursts match the violently articulated fragments of Genevieve Lacey's recorder; pushing both instruments to their limits - and sometimes beyond.
In Ros Bandt's 'Flight', birds hover and swoop, are caught and sustained by air currents: here the recorder soars effortlessly - flying free from all stereotypes!
Hear also Ian Shanahan's 'Helican Ribbon', Benjamin Thorn's spectacular 'Yellow Bats', and Neil Currie's 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'.
Press quotes
“plenty of new territory to explore.”
— Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide
“... a testament to the strength of compositional and performing talent in Australia.”
— Australia's Journal of Recorder and Early Music
“This excellently devised and performed program displays the recorder as a valid instrument of contemporary expression.”
— Bill Hoffmann, Canberra Times
Artist
Genevieve Lacey
Genevieve Lacey is a recorder virtuoso who creates new possibilities for her instrument. Her awards include an ARIA, Helpman (Namatjira), Churchill Fellowship, Freedman Fellowship, Best Performance (Australian Music Awards) and Outstanding Musician (Melbourne Prize for Music). Genevieve holds academic and performance degrees (including a doctorate) in music and English literature from institutions in Melbourne, Switzerland and Denmark.
Audio previews
Track Listing
- Aureole 3 Brenton Broadstock
- Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Neil Currie
- Lingua Silens Florum Ian Shanahan
- I
- II
- III
- Cathy's Song Ian Shanahan
- Helical Ribbon Ian Shanahan
- Prelude
- Arabesque
- Rhapsody
- Flight Ros Bandt
Pipistrelli gialli (Yellow bats) Benjamin Thorn
Phoenix Songs Amanda Baker
Performers
- Genevieve Lacey
- Hartley Newnham · track 2
- Robert Chamberlain · tracks 9–11
- Ann Murphy · track 1
- David Corbet · live electronics · tracks 4–6
Composers
Ros Bandt
Ros Bandt is a composer performer and sound artist who is passionate about combining ancient and modern sonic practices. Her sound research has included building a medieval Pythagorean recorder and she directs the Australian sound design project on line at the Australian centre, The University of Melbourne.
Brenton Broadstock
Brenton Broadstock is now one of Australia's most well established, respected and successful mid-generation composers. Over several decades he has built a substantial and varied catalogue, distinguished by its expressive range, structural assurance and strong engagement with performers and audiences alike, both nationally and internationally.
Neil Currie
Currie has been the recipient of numerous commissions, including over a dozen funded by the Australia Council and a recent commission from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation which resulted in Glenside for Chamber Orchestra. He now resides in Canada.
Ian Shanahan
Shanahan is well-regarded as an expert in contemporary techniques for the recorder and his work in this area has done much to expand the possibilities for composers writing for this instrument.
Benjamin Thorn
Benjamin Thorn is a composer and recorder player based in Armidale NSW. He has written music for a wide range of instrumental and vocal combinations but has gained greatest recognition for his works for the recorder. He edited the acclaimed two volume collection of mostly Australian recorder music ‘Recorders at large’ (Currency Press) and has edited various seventeenth century works for Saraband.
Amanda Baker
Melbourne-based composer Amanda Baker developed a strong interest in electronic music as an alternative to what she then felt to be the unsatisfactory idioms offered by conventional media.
Where to listen
Phoenix Songs is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Phoenix Songs is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3165
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley - Release date
- 1995
- Musical work
copyright - © 1995 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1995 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Classical
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574316520
Related recordings
Seasons of Love
This CD combines a jazz trio, a string orchestra, and various featured instrumental soloists, not to mention the vocal talents of Gian Slater and Eddie Perfect. Graeme Lyall has provided superbly rich arrangements of songs from the Great American Songbook in addition to other notable tunes.
two
Together, two of Australia's finest young musicians present a unique programme of traditional Irish folk melodies, baroque virtuosity, contemporary Australian works and medieval dance music.
Bright Tracks
Winner of the 1998 ABC Classic FM "Listeners' Choice" Award, this double CD set brings together chamber music by Brenton Broadstock, one of Australia's most well- established and respected composers.