Antipod-Ento-Menagerie
(2018)
twenty-one miniatures for piano with rolling preparation
Vitrine 1 ~ I. Neon Cuckoo II. Topless Cannibal; Vitrine 2 ~ III. Cherrynose IV. Gippsland Ghost V. Mud Dauber; Vitrine 3 ~ VI. Milkweed VII. Macrotona VIII. Black Vines IX. Kimberley Longlegs; Vitrine 4 ~ X. Common Spittle XI. Boisduval’s Autumn; Vitrine 5 ~ XII. Harlequin XIII. Koch’s Sandgroper XIV. Cooloola Monster; Vitrine 6 ~ XV. Ellipsidion XVI. Peppermins Stick XVII. Oriental Latrine XVIII. Dampwood XIX. Scarlet Jezebel; Vitrine 7 ~ XX. Hairy Fungus XXI. Trifid Duskhawker
commissioned by Clemens Leske
premiered in part (recorded for streaming) by Ryan MacEvoy McCullough on 10 June 2021 at Bard College, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, USA
premiered in full by Ryan MacEvoy McCullough on 25 June 2023 at SICPP, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, CO, USA
featured in SICPP 2023, O+ 2023
recording: complete ~ Ryan MacEvoy McCullough
recording: excerpt (Vitrines 1-3) ~ Ryan MacEvoy McCullough
score available through The Australian Music Centre
duration: 28’
genre: Solo
category: Ambrosia, Esoterica
AntipodEntoMenagerie was written for the Australian pianist Clemens Leske for his doctoral thesis on piano miniatures. Comprising of twenty-one short movements - ranging from 30 seconds to 3 minutes - the work celebrates the ‘miniature’ in terms of both Western music and Australian fauna.
The title of each movement refers to a particular and distinct Antipodean insect. Other than biological class, the featured creatures have something else in common: the evocativeness of their names. This may seem a frivolous springboard for composition - maybe because it is - but a label, however silly, can be powerful. Is the music a portrayal of the insect itself? An allusion to the text’s literal meaning? A reaction to the inherent colour of the words? All of the above? None of the above? Though ‘miniature’ themselves, these textual artifacts are packed with creative potential, some modest portion of which is realised here.
