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Work

Listen : for flute, clarinet in B flat, soprano saxophone, viola and cello

by Peter McNamara (2009)

Score Sample

View a sample of the score of this work

Audio Sample

Performance by chronology arts ensemble from the CD Selected works by AMC represented artists

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Selected works by AMC represented artists

Non-Commercial

This item is not commercially available from the Australian Music Centre. We regret that we cannot offer it for sale.

CD

Selected works by AMC represented artists : vol 4

Library shelf no. CD 2131 [Available for loan]

Display all products featuring this work (1 more)  

Work Overview

In 2007 the Lao-Australian writer Sumana Viravong co-edited a publication entitled Seri-Lao (free people). The stories of the refugees from Laos is seldom told and in this publication, Sumana Viravong highlights some of these stories by creating a forum in print for a range of Lao-Australian refugees to express their stories in words. While listening to the stories of these people (often intensely emotional), Ms. Viravong was inspired to write a short poem entitled Listen. This publication is meant to help us understand others that have fled their homeland as refugees, and while we often speak a lot, sometimes we need to just listen.

My work for flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, viola and cello also entitled "Listen" uses the words of Sumana Viraving's poem for its influence. The main feature of this piece is the contrast of very free material representing the freedom of the Lao people (either desired or found after fleeing Laos), and strict machine-like material representing the communist government of Laos. The "free" sections are organised by using unmeasured techniques where there is no metre and the instrumentalists are given a finite number of "events" to randomly repeat. The "machine-like" material in contrast uses a regular semiquaver pulse.

Work Details

Year: 2009

Instrumentation: Flute, clarinet in B flat, soprano saxophone, viola, cello.

Duration: 9 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Commission note: Commissioned by chronology arts ensemble.

First performance: by chronology arts ensemble at Chronology Arts: Playing in tongues (Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music) on 9 Dec 2009

Inspired by the words of Sumana Viravong's poem "Listen".

Subjects

Performances of this work

9 Dec 2009: at Chronology Arts: Playing in tongues (Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music). Featuring chronology arts ensemble.

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