It's pretty much a given that a Griffyn Ensemble concert will be both entertaining and challenging - and their latest concert, Cloudy With a Chance of Rain, was no exception. But this concert had an added fillip: it was unashamedly political in addressing the thorny (for some) issue of climate change. Good on the Griffyns … Continue reading The Griffyn Ensemble’s paean to the weather
Review – Music
Tafelmusik anyone?
Tafelmusik = table (or banquet) music, and has been used since the mid-16th century for music played at feasts and banquets. AND ... Tafelmusik = a Canadian Baroque orchestra specialising in early music, performed on period instruments. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE ... 197856 Tafelmusik = an asteroid discovered in 2004 and named for the orchestra. You … Continue reading Tafelmusik anyone?
Every folkie knows … Leonard Cohen
I recently wrote about the National Folk Festival in relation to Australian stories and history, but I can't resist also writing a little post about "the man" because he was, it seemed, everywhere. I'm exaggerating of course but he - Leonard Cohen, of course - did seem to keep popping up. There were performers who … Continue reading Every folkie knows … Leonard Cohen
The illicit passions of Griffyns
The instruments await their players Ha! That got you in didn't it? Or, didn't it? It's been a while since I wrote about a music event. That's not because I haven't been to any but because I'm no expert and prefer not to put that on show too often. However, the Griffyn Ensemble is a … Continue reading The illicit passions of Griffyns
Introducing the Griffyn Ensemble
A painted Griffin, Knossos (Courtesy: Paginazero, via Wikipedia, using CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported) The Griffyn Ensemble is an exciting chamber music ensemble based right here in our (that is downunder's) national capital. The ensemble is named, in a fun wordplay, after Walter Burley Griffin, Canberra's designer, and the mythical beast (the griffin, gryffin, or gryphon). The … Continue reading Introducing the Griffyn Ensemble
Musica Viva: The Harp Consort do Carolan’s Harp
Can you pronounce this? Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhallaín? Perhaps you'd prefer the English transliteration: Turlough O'Carolan. O'Carolan was a blind Irish harper* who lived from 1670 to 1738, and, according to Wikipedia, is believed by some to be Ireland's national composer. He was also the composer and subject of this week's Musica Viva concert. Carolan's music, the program … Continue reading Musica Viva: The Harp Consort do Carolan’s Harp
A Day on the Green, with Diana Krall (et al)
Last night was my second "A Day on the Green" concert held at the beautiful Centennial Vineyards in Bowral. The first was January 2009 when I attended the stupendous - there's no other word for it - Leonard Cohen concert. That really was a concert to end all concerts. Last night's concert though was no … Continue reading A Day on the Green, with Diana Krall (et al)
Musica Viva, the Internet and Borodin
Tonight was the opening of our Musica Viva 2010 International Concert Season. The performers were the Borodin Quartet, and they performed two quartets by Shostakovich and one by their namesake, Borodin. I'm not going to review this concert in detail because, as I've said before, I have no musical training and so can't comment in any … Continue reading Musica Viva, the Internet and Borodin
Vale Kate McGarrigle
Last week I read on Cat Politics' blog that Kate McGarrigle - one part of the Kate and Anna McGarrigle duo - had died just shy of her 64th birthday. How very sad. Like Cat Politics I discovered the McGarrigles in the 1970s, and over the years have acquired a few of their albums: Kate … Continue reading Vale Kate McGarrigle
A free range Christmas
Can you think of anything more free-ranging than a concert which includes the Inch Worm song and Blake's Tyger, Rudolph the Red-nose reindeer and a 13th century Benedictine Nun's lullaby, and much more besides? I certainly wouldn't have before we attended a concert on Friday titled A Free Range Christmas by the wonderful Song Company. The … Continue reading A free range Christmas
Whispering Gums 