Australian Concerts

[semloh]

I thought perhaps members would be interested to know that the 22nd Australian Festival of Chamber Music is currently being held here in Townsville, and that this year sees quite a number of Unsung Composers and a more wide-ranging interpretation of "chamber music" than previously.

I went to the opening night last week and the concert (which was firstclass, and was broadcast live nationally) began with John Ireland's fine Piano Trio No.1, and over the weekend there was a performance of Malcolm Williamson's Piano Concerto No.2. Nigel Westlake is our composer in residence, and the artistic director has for many years been the pianist Piers Lane. If you are interested in finding out the musical tastes of modern Australia, please take a look at the week's programme at:

http://www.afcm.com.au/events_day.php

You never know, maybe we can tempt you to come and take a holiday here in paradise for next year's festival! 

[JimL]

A piano concerto at a chamber music festival?  What, in an arrangement for piano quintet?

[semloh]

A piano concerto at a chamber music festival?  What, in an arrangement for piano quintet?

Well, Jim, it's most odd. The ensemble accompanying Piers Lane was the Camerata of St Johns (aka Queensland Chamber Orchestra), which - from the link in the programme webpage - appears to be quite a substantial orchestra. It is certainly stretching the notion of "chamber music" somewhat.

The ABC broadcast a movement from Hamilton Harty's Piano Quintet this morning by Piers Lane and the Goldner String Quartet (Hyperion CD) - both of whom are involved in the festival - what a pity that isn't on the programme. 

[petershott@btinternet.com]

Maybe it isn't so odd? Williamson's concerto is scored for piano and strings. So perhaps it could be squeezed into a chamber music concert? No matter!

[Sydney Grew]

. . . The ABC broadcast a movement from Hamilton Harty's Piano Quintet this morning . . .

They caught the snippet disease many years ago; which is when I stopped listening. It's a pity.

[MikeW]

It is certainly stretching the notion of "chamber music" somewhat.

Given the innumerable configurations for chamber ensembles (even just to play Martinu), you need to start with a large pool of players to get minimum forces in a wide repertoire.