BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE (EDITOR) WITH LAURA BIEMMI (TRENDS EDITOR)
David ‘Twiggy’ Reichelt reckons the wind quintet can be a “formidable” concoction of instruments for any composer.
And the oboist would know, having performed with Arcadia Winds since he co-founded the Melbourne chamber group with his fellow musicians back in 2013.
The group is undertaking an artists’ residency at Monash, and will perform in this week’s MLIVE concert Revolution. Led by emerging conductor Tianyi Lu, and also featuring the Monash Academy Orchestra, the group will perform a range of works – including a number of Australian originals written for the group itself.
Part of the challenge in writing for wind quintet, Twiggy says, is the vast range of technical “tendencies and abilities” between French horn and oboe (Rachel Shaw and Twiggy), flute and clarinet (Kiran Phatak and Lloyd Van’t Hoff), and – of course – the bassoon (Matthew Kneale).
“It’s always been a joy to work with the great people who are brave enough to write for us!” Twiggy jokes.
Since making its entry with an Australian National Academy of Music fellowship in 2013, followed by its placement as the inaugural Musica Viva FutureMakers from 2015-17, Arcadia has commissioned and performed works from leading new composers – some of which include Elizabeth Younan, Lachlan Skipworth, Elliott Gyger, and Kate Neal.
“Every time we’ve worked with composers on a new work, they’ve always shown the greatest enthusiasm for the medium, and often an eager willingness to workshop the new piece,” Twiggy says.
“Seeing the composer’s clear and sometimes visceral ideas becoming real for the first time is, sometimes, as much a shock for them as it is for us!”
Arcadia premiered Natalie Williams’ Animalia two years ago at an exhibition at the Canberra’s National Portrait Gallery; “the exhibition was about pets, and thus all of the movements are reflective of the artists’ portrayal of their beloved furry, or sometimes woolly, friends”.
Together with Animalia, the players will also revisit Ian Whitney’s Five Scenes in their upcoming concert, and Twiggy tells us it’ll be a special event, as “one doesn’t often hear a bassoon and flute duet, but Ian’s made it happen!”.
“It’s always a privilege to have the chance to perform great new music, especially by Australian composers whom we’ve had the chance to work with directly.”
While Twiggy somewhat humbly admits the wind formation is a challenge for composers, he also acknowledges its strengths – the variety of sounds the group can bring to audiences, including its instrumental pairings, articulations, and tonal colours, from “velvety clarinet and flute” to “sharp, front-heavy double reeds”.
“I feel like the wind quintet is a relatively untapped market for composers. If written well, the wind quintet can create nearly any soundscape you could ever want.”
The Revolution program and artists’ residency sees Arcadia edge close to a decade of collaboration with Monash University; the group’s members also having worked as tutors and performers at the institution.
Twiggy sees the opportunity to partner with Monash as “part of our commitment to further connect with the music education institutions in Australia”.
“This means a great deal, as it shows that Monash is eager to expand its chamber music focus, and have musicians like us play side-by-side with their students; which are both concepts that we advocate strongly whenever we work in education at this level.”
Revolution is part of Monash’s aptly titled Progress festival of ideas, and it’s a celebration of innovation in light of the new Ian Potter Centre of Performing Arts, and – as Twiggy observes – the university’s “new efforts to program concerts in a slightly different manner, focusing on Australian music and chamber music, as well as orchestral, all within the same concert”.
“We in Arcadia Winds are proud to join them in this modernisation of the format, and in particular we are very pleased to be able to showcase such exemplary new Australian works to the students and supporters of the university.”
Of course, it’s not just about the group’s burgeoning career – it also provides the opportunity for Monash students to perform alongside and learn from Arcadia, as they will when Strauss’ Wind Serenade hits the Revolution program.
“Working with students directly to enhance their chamber music education and experiences is one of the best things I feel we can do as an ensemble in our efforts within tertiary institutions.”
You can head along to support Arcadia Winds and the music students of Monash when you attend MLIVE performance Revolution, Robert Blackwood Hall, 2.30pm May 19. It’s a free event.
We’re proud to team up with MLIVE to bring you this story about new Australian music! 🙂
Images supplied.
