Program note: Shoal
- Damien Ricketson
- Source: The Song Company Modart03 V2
Shoal Damien Ricketson
Shoal is based on a poem by Les Murray of the same name. The music is
considered something of a heterogeneous unison. Playing upon the analogy of a
shoal of fish, the vocal ensemble is conceived of as a collective singular:
loosening - tightening - drifting apart - snapping in unity - emancipating -
determined. Ebbing between individual and community, solo and chorale, the
polyphony of elements aggregate a self-conscious whole. Shoal was
commissioned by The Song Company for the 2003 Sydney Writers' Festival and
premiered at the 2003 Newcastle Loudmouth Festival, Australia. Many thanks to
Rolancl Peelman and the musicians of The Song Company for their assistance
and advice during the writing of this work.
