The latest Kammer Ensemble concert presented by the New Music Network was a fine tribute to recently deceased modern composers, entitled Legacies. This concept was successful. It allowed for the ensemble’s typically diverse, skilful and expressive interpretations to have a satisfying nostalgic twist.
Three works by the American legend Elliott Carter began the retrospective of music written just before the death of the featured composers. Possibilities for contrast in instrumentation were brought to life in two Rigmaroles for cello and bass clarinet. The larger trio involved in Carter’s Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux II for flute, clarinet and marimba extended the working of modern dialogue.
It was the bracket of works from 2004 by Jonathon Harvey which delivered greatest expression and innovation for me on the night. Stephanie McCallum was once again an impressive anchor in the Harvey Clarinet Trio as well as the evocative Run Before Lightning for flute and piano.
Both of these works work were introduced with well-drawn lines of independent lyricism and churning piano accompaniments. McCallum’s pitchless work on the piano lid was both a novel and successfully played tone colour effect.
The climax of the night was hotly contested by a superb delivery of Hans Werner Henze’s Five Night Pieces for violin and pianoforte (1990). James Cuddeford’s violin lines were sprawingly beautiful. This was evocatively played, with great rendering of extremely hushed atmospheres. It brought us far from Henze as a once Stockhausen disciple.
A delivery of the Ceremony II by Roger Smalley played by full ensemble was an effective close to the concert remembering his contemporaries. Aspects of tempo manipulation, ensemble playing and textural variation in this exciting work blended to provide a fitting end to a concert which introduced clever music by gifted composers.
The return of fine modern music making by the consistently excellent Kammer ensemble under the umbrella of the New Music Network pleased once again.
New Music Network presents
Kammer Ensemble – Legacies
Flute – Lisa Osmialowski
Clarinet – John Lewis
Violin – James Cuddeford
Cello – Andrew Hines
Piano – Stephanie McCallum
Percussion – Claire Edwardes
Elliott Carter: Duettone
Elliott Carter: Rigmarole
Hans Werner Henze: Capriccio
Jonathan Harvey: Run Before Lightning
Jonathan Harvey: Clarinet Trio
Elliott Carter: Esprit Rude – Esprit Doux II
Hans Werner: Henze Five Night Pieces
Roger Smalley: Ceremony II
St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney
4 July
