BY LAURA BIEMMI (TRENDS EDITOR) WITH RACHEL BRUERVILLE (OPINIONS EDITOR)
There could only be one thing better than an extensive chamber music festival that invites both local and international musicians of the highest calibre to collaborate and perform for Australian audiences.
If you’re wondering what that could possibly be, the answer is, of course, a chamber music festival that is based in a beautiful, tropical location in north-eastern Queensland.
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music has celebrated new composition, renowned musicians, and the beauty of Townsville’s unique landscape since 1991. Each year, the AFCM – with artistic director Kathryn Stott – showcases its global musicians and empowers them to perform together in an environment like no other.
This year is no exception. In a highly anticipated musical offering, pipa virtuoso and musical pioneer Wu Man will make her AFCM debut, performing her traditional Chinese lute-like instrument in a wide range of exciting repertoire. And, alongside its dedication to bringing renowned international musicians to our shores, the AFCM is a champion of local talent: 2019 composer-in-residence is Queensland’s own Connor D’Netto; a young yet hugely accomplished composer who has been commissioned across Australia and abroad. He recently made a base for himself in London, now returning home for AFCM with a wealth of new insight and achievement.
With a host of other local and international musicians, these two formidable artists will convene in sunny Townsville in the weeks that bridge July and August, sharing a mutual purpose: to bring chamber music to life.
A large part of the AFCM is its programming of new chamber works alongside more established repertoire favourites. For Wu, the performance of new works is extremely important to her artistic mission.
“My goal as an artist has been to introduce the pipa to audiences who may not be familiar with the instrument, and one of the best ways to do that is through new compositions that push the boundaries of how a pipa can be played,” Wu says.
“By working with contemporary composers in both Western and Eastern cultures, I am able to bring the pipa to the modern concert hall and share its incredible sounds with new audiences.”
Traditional Chinese music and folk song arrangements will find their place next to more modern works such as Tan Dun’s Concerto for String Quartet and Pipa, and Ye Xiaogang’s Gardenia.
Wu says she wants to “take the audience on a musical journey from the traditional to the modern, emphasising connections across cultures while showing how versatile the pipa can be”.
For Connor, his music is some of the new music on offer: “There’s a great cross-section of my music being performed at the festival. It’ll be interesting for audiences to hear how I’ve developed.”
The Australian String Quartet and the Goldner String Quartet are just two of the renowned ensembles that will perform music from Connor’s repertoire; highlights include his second and third string quartets, and a series of other works with instrumentation across piano, strings, and electronics.
With such a wide range of cultures and sounds interacting at the AFCM, the question of musical and cultural identity is one that seems to arise frequently. To Wu, interactions of these sorts are fascinating: “I really enjoy working with composers of different backgrounds, learning about different cultures, and then merging those cultures with my own through the pipa.”
“Music, from different areas of the world, has its own identity and sound based on history, culture, and people. More and more, contemporary music blends cultures, or has a more global or universal sound – which is a beautiful thing, because we all live together on this one planet.
“But I think it’s important that the unique sounds formed by a composer’s heritage and experiences, or created by a traditional instrument, come through in the music.”
For Connor, creating a culturally specific sound has never been a conscious decision.
“My focus has always been on writing the kind of music I liked, and developing my voice without being bogged down by whether it sounded like something else,” he says.
“But when I moved to London, I began to realise that was something about my music that was kind of ‘Australian’! I can’t put my finger on it, exactly, but having been surrounded by Australian music up to that point, it had just found its way into my music. It just took some space from that sound for me to realise it.”
Regardless of the backgrounds and influences they bring with them to Australia, both artists are excited to visit Townsville for the festival. Wu has performed at festivals across Australia, but the 2019 AFCM will be her first time in Queensland.
“I’m very excited to perform in such a beautiful place, and with such wonderful artists!” she says.
And, despite being a Brisbane boy, Connor has never been to Townsville before. “Everyone I know that has been there tells me how gorgeous it is!” he admits.
“With the festival’s huge program performed not only in the city, but out on the reef with concerts on Magnetic Island, it looks like it’ll be a really wonderful working holiday.”
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music will take place at various [tropical, warm, stunning, take-me-there-now] locations in Townsville from 26 July to 4 August.
You can find detailed information about Wu Man’s performances here, and Connor D’Netto’s here.
We’re excited to team up with AFCM to shed light on the musicians behind the scenes! If you’re under 30, you might even get to meet them for $30. Check out some of the program highlights here!
Images supplied.
