Inventiveness

I had the inside goss as tenor Jack Jordan was staying with us for a few days to prepare and perform the first Living Collection session at the National Library, this one for the music of Aussie/Brit composer Luke Styles.  Luke was in house for the event; it was his archive that had been accessioned into the collection of the NLA and we were here to hear of it and to sample some of his music.  The event opened with a children's choir in the Library foyer, then a move to the NLA Theatre and several further performances and discussions.  Marie-Louise Ayres, NLA DG, opened the session.  We saw images of hand-written manuscripts on screen.  We heard discussion back and forth between Luke and Toby on Luke's history at Glyndebourne, the Foundling Museum, Covent Garden and more; his donation, his music and how he thinks on creation and composition; his first instruments (flute> e-bass>double bass); the joy both Luke and Tobias have in working on music with kids; the importance and implications of vocals; Shakespearean sonnets and the work we were to hear, Vanity, setting Sonnets 2,18,137,138.  The music in the theatre was some young-themed songs from the children's choir (out of Vocal Fry and Canberra Children's Choir) under Tobias, vln/vla duo and vln solo (Slogan 1 and Bound) from Brad and Pippa, and those 4 sonnets (Vanity) from Canberra Singers, tenor Jack and bass Andrew with accompaniment from violin Brad with Tobias conducting.  The youth pieces were amusing and playful and not at all rollovers.  The other pieces were hugely challenging to learn, to hear, to understand, at least at first hearing, but fascinating for a prepared, informed audience.  Suffice to say, part of the event was playfully child-centred and influenced, part was a difficult adult listen and a demanding performance, part was a fascinating discussion around this significant addition to the NLA collection.  And you can see all this: it was streamed live and is on YouTube with the title "Living collection: The music of Luke Styles".

Luke Styles (composer) and Tobias Cole discussed Luke's donation and history. Tobias Cole (conductor) led several groups in performance of some music of Luke Styles.  Performers were Canberra Children's Choir, Vocal Fry (choir), Kimberley Steele (piano), Canberra Singers (choir), Brad Tham (violin), Pippa Newmann (viola), Jack Jordan (tenor) and Andrew Fysh (bass).

Living collection : The music of Luke Styles