This year, I've been fortunate enough to be listed as a finalist in the WSO composition competition. The piece I've submitted to be workshopped by the Waapa Symphony Orchestra is one I've planned to include in my recital, titled "Yurahi: The City of Balance". It features the thematic motive for the fantasy setting of the story I've written for my recital. The theme develops across four sections through the lens of the young protagonists and how they view the city: The music follows their heroes journey.
The first section starts off slow and grand but quickly shifts gear into a bright and lively 6/4 focused on percussion and woodwind. This helps convey the excitement and novelty of this vibrant city, similar to how Hogwarts Castle affects Harry and his friends. The second section warms with the introduction of the strings and brass, becoming more grounded as it switches to 4/4 (counted as a 2/4 beat). This shows how the characters have settled into the city as their new home. The third section uses the extremes of the pitch spectrum, leaving an uncomfortable amount of sonic space. The vibraphone, marimba and harp play the same motive in different keys, revealing a deeper corruption within the city. This climaxes with a dissonant, orchestral hit as the characters have their world view turned upside down. The fourth section cools down with a few solo instruments including harp, clarinet and glockenspiel. This softer more contemplative atmosphere then builds to a crescendo as the protagonists accept their home for what it is and resolve to fight for it to make it better. As you can imagine, this is where the full orchestra joins back in to kick butt. This piece finishes, returning to it's humble beginnings with solo harp and flute. The protagonists have passed on the city to the next generation and the cycle begins a new. My plan is to record the workshop and use it to take notes on how well different sections work for different moods and atmospheres. I will use the recording in my recital to bolster the sound of the live ensemble and make it sound as grand and cinematic as possible (i.e. I'll use it as a backing track with live instrumentalists).
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Artist SummaryI'm a WA Fremantle based singer-songwriter / composer. Here, you can have a gawk at my studies, compositions and performances. Archives
August 2022
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