Remembering Gallipoli
Premiere recordings of two Australian works—one contemporary, one nearly a century old—mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings. Thomas Jones (violin), Laura Chislett Jones (bass flute) and Rachel Valler perform.
The Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915 were a defining point in shaping Australia’s identity. Fourteen years after Federation, many of the qualities now celebrated as truly Australian were forged in appalling conditions between a beach and an insurmountable headland.
As we remember Gallipoli and the huge sacrifices made by Australians and their families, we can also reflect on the flowering of a unique and authentic Australian voice.
The works here by Moya Henderson, Leon Gellert and Henry Tate are examples of that voice. Each remembers in a different way, yet all three are distinctively Australian in their warmth, sincerity and directness.
This piece was commissioned by Laura and Tom who gave the world premiere at the Sydney Conservatorium in August 2014. In discussions, we quickly opted for the bass flute to partner the violin. I’m avoiding the word ‘accompany’ here, as it can be misinterpreted to mean a subservient role. As we are in the years of commemorating WW1, and as both Laura and I—and in all likelihood, many others listening to this—lost close relatives in this war, the title was an obvious choice.
The piece turned (loosely) into a double ternary form. The opening energies represent our unpredictable lives, and the recurring, still moments, those memories that attach more and more persistently to our lives. Mostly the performers live and remember in tandem. Occasionally, they are in their own, individual worlds. If, throughout the piece, the multiphonics on the bass flute suggest recalled thoughts, the ending belongs to the grinning reaper, epitomised by a bowed tremolo in the violin. From my perspective, it looms frigid, rigid and a tad scary as well. (Put an extra long pause over it, Tom!)
Artists
Moya Henderson
Moya Henderson's music is warm, sincere and distinctively Australian: chamber works such as G'Day Africa and Cross Hatching, art songs and carols, and scores that remember Gallipoli and the land with directness.
Thomas Jones
In 1988 Jones became the violinist with the Atlanta Chamber Players, the leading ensemble in the Southeast and toured extensively with them throughout the United States. He has also appeared as guest artist with the Borodin Trio and performed as a soloist with various Australian and American orchestras including the Dekalb Symphony, the Tampa Bay Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Pops Orchestra.
Tracks
- Remembering Moya Henderson 6:05
- The Attack at Dawn (Poem) Leon Gellert 1:18
- Tone Sketch Henry Tate Arr: Richard Divall 3:02
Performers
- Laura Chislett Jones · bass flute · track 1
- Thomas Jones · all except track 2
- Rachel Valler · track 3
- Robert Regan · voice · track 2
Composers
Richard Divall
Richard Divall (1945–2017) was an Australian conductor and musicologist whose work spanned opera, large-scale choral performance and the editing of early music.
Where to listen
Remembering Gallipoli is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Remembering Gallipoli 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 3392
- List price
- $5.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 10 minutes 25 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Daniel Brown (track 1)
Greg Ghavalas (track 3) - Venue
- 2MBS-FM (track 3)
Trackdown Scoring Stage (track 1)
Westgarth Recorders (track 2) - Release date
- 2015
- Musical work
copyright - © 2015 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2015 Move Records
- Categories
- Classical, Spoken word
- Genres
- Contemporary Classical, Spoken Word
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574339222
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