Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

“Well may we say ‘God Save The Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor General.” Forty years after it was made, it may come as a surprise that this most famous proclamation by Gough Whitlam could be made to in a waltz! Composer and double bass player Robert Davidson provides us with a witty and delightful series of thoughts on power and politics in his ensemble piece with video, in what is a first for Australia Ensemble audiences. And what is a waltz without an accompanying tango? Paul Keating gets a bit of a serve in a new version of the Keating Tangos.

Politics and power are darker notions, however, when we consider the music of Dmitry Shostakovich. The glorious Cello Sonata of 1934 was written just before his censure by the Soviet Cultural office for his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtensk and at a time of personal turmoil which seems to heighten the expressive power of this music. Beethoven too had a Russian connection, namely with Prince Razumovsky, an amateur violinist of some repute and commissioner of three of Beethoven’s most famous quartets, the third of which will form the centrepiece for this program.

Robert DAVIDSON (b 1965): Big Decisions for flute, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass with video (2001)

Raffaele MARCELLINO (b 1964); Rob DAVIDSON (b 1965); Ian MUNRO (b 1963): Selections from The Keating Tangos for flute, clarinet and piano (1999)

Featured non-Australian music: Shostakovich, Beethoven

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 9385 4874 or by email to australia.ensemble@unsw.edu.au

Featured Australian Works

Featured artists

• Music of Raffæle Marcellino
• Music of Robert Davidson
• Music of Ian Munro
• Performer Australia Ensemble