Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

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The Australian Music Centre's catalogue does not include any recordings or sheet music of this work. This entry is for information purposes only.

It is listed in our catalogue because an event featuring a performance of this work was included in our calendar of Australian music. Details of this performance are listed below.

Work Overview

The Tower is the result of a commission responding to the notion of place. Wanting to do an 'urban' piece, I chose to use the iconic Petersham Reservoir as a symbol of the vibrancy of Sydney's Inner West. I've lived in this area for over 10 years.

When visiting the Reservoir to do some recon, I remembered that I had wanted to do a piece inspired by the tarot. The lightbulb moment was when it occurred to me that The Tower could allude to the landmark, the Inner West, and the archetype of The Tower tarot card.

The Tower tarot card represents chaos, pandemonium, the destruction of old structures and the emergence of new. It represents rebirth and new beginnings.

The writing of The Tower was made possible by the first Echo Commission. This initiative was generously established by composer extraordinaire and Syzygy regular Rosalind Page.

Work Details

Year: 2022

Instrumentation: Flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano.

Duration: 13 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Contents note: Clarinettist only plays bass clarinet.

Commission note: Commissioned by Rosà Lind Page, The Echo Commission, Syzygy Ensemble.. Commissioned by Syzygy Ensemble, The Echo Commission, Rosalind Page.

First performance: by Syzygy Ensemble at Syzygy Ensemble – Revive (Melbourne Recital Centre, Primrose Potter Salon) on 24 Mar 2022