BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Distinguished music educator and conductor Richard Gill has dedicated his life to inspiring musicians of all ages. Having conducted his way from Sydney to Salzburg, the maestro is recognised as one of Australia’s greatest musical figures. His contributions earned him an Order of Australia Medal in 1994, a Centenary Medal in 2001, and the Don Banks Music Award in 2006 – among a number of other highly regarded awards. The legend will host a sing along of Handel’s Messiah culminating in a public performance with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and discusses the work, ensemble singing, and music education ahead of the event.
What ignites your passion as a music educator?
Music has this extraordinary power to change lives, and it also has this wonderful power to give all people access to extraordinary feelings and sensations that otherwise they wouldn’t have. You just need to be a good, observant listener, and you can develop those skills right through your life. There is never a time when you can say you know all the answers, you understand every aspect of music, and you know exactly how every piece works. That is one of the great joys of music, that it constantly reveals itself.
What’s the key to putting together a really great vocal ensemble?
A sense of unity in the ensemble, a sense of commitment from every member, a sense that every member understands exactly what is going on from the ensemble at every time. It’s like a beautiful flock of birds all turning together, all flying together, all soaring higher and falling. This wonderful sense of unity, a wonderful sense of rhythm, and a wonderful sense of pitch and musical direction. They know the musical intention.
Tell us a bit about why Handel’s Messiah’s continues to bring joy after so many years.
The Messiah is one of those everlastingly wonderful fabulous works that people enjoy singing, always, and the general public can have access to it as well. We’re also looking at some Bach Chorale in the performance. They’re great works because they’re brilliantly written, they’re incredibly well composed, and they have withstood the test of time.
What makes these works so well suited for a group performance situation?
When they are performed they provide great joy, great satisfaction, great sense of achievement for having sung this music, and a feeling that at the end of a performance of the Messiah that you really have achieved something significant. The analogy is like a great meal. You can slap up a couple of chops and a few sausages and whack a bit of tomato sauce on it, or you can go to the trouble and have a beautifully prepared and cooked meal. These works are not slapped up works. These works are crafted by master craftsman who really know music – people like Bach and Handel who really knew their music, and really knew what they were doing.
How can we keep younger generations interested in classical music?
You’ve got to get to them early enough. You’ve got to teach children the ins and outs of music early enough – and it’s not to say they can’t learn ever, but if you don’t give it to them early enough they’ll never get it. It’s not just classical music – they want to be able to have access to all sorts of music. There’s nothing necessarily good, moral, or virtuous about classical music. What we want is musical thinkers – people who can think about what they’re hearing. Studying music early enough, all sorts of music, gives them access to a rich variety of repertoire. That’s what we want.
Sing along to Messiah with Richard Gill and the TSO at the Federation Concert Hall on May 9 and 10. For more information go to tso.com.au.
Image supplied.
