A King’s Manifesto
(2014)
for soprano, percussion & cello
commissioned by Halcyon, as part of the Kingfisher Project
premiered by Halcyon on 15 March 2014 at the Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, NSW, Australia
released by Tall Poppies on the album Kingfisher
featured in UMich Masters Recital, SICPP 2015, Kingfisher
reviewed in Press
video: UMich musicians including Anthony DeMartinis, percussion
score available through The Australian Music Centre
duration: 5’30”
genre: Chamber - Small, Song
category: Ambrosia, Esoterica
This special birthday of Halcyon’s is an occasion to celebrate fifteen years of engaging, eclectic new music wonderfully realised. Moreover, and perhaps more significantly, it is also an opportunity to acknowledge the courage and tenacity of its founders. As outsiders to the global market system, new music groups the world over face serious challenges: scraping together enough funding, drumming up and maintaining a discerning audience, attracting and keeping quality performers. Sydney’s are certainly no different; if anything, local cultural priorities make their fight all the more gruelling. Given these circumstances, it is extraordinary Halcyon has not only survived, but flourished, both as a performer and progenitor of new musical expression.
A King’s Manifesto is all about praising this fortitude. Somewhat late 18th century in tone and pretence, the poem draws anachronistically upon images of pre-industrial growth, fertility and abundance. Unlike its literary ancestors, however, it delights in the taming and tilling of nature, rather than revelling in its unfettered beauties. The music itself mirrors this (my) take on Halcyon’s legacy. While lacking the appropriate stylistic markers, it nevertheless voices something of the Romantic hero(ine)’s struggle, though here as a civiliser of, not an apologist for natural inhospitality. Rich, wild gestures are held in check by harmonic irrigation methodically constructed; the joy here is the wonder of planning, of engineering, of building something out of nothing.
