Greetings for the new week, and welcome to my occasional blog. If you are new to this blog, as I build my email database or respond to enquiries to join up, welcome.
There is a news item via Music Australia about classical music in unusual places, that looks at initiatives that take classical music to different, and what we might consider, unlikely places, such as shopping malls, street corners, car parks, derelict buildings. This is not new – musicians are ever-inventive people, with musicians I have known over the years taking music to a variety of unusual places, such as Michael Fortescue taking the double-bass to eclectic places around Tasmania, or Australian composer Martin Wesley-Smith presenting enormously creative and extraordinary visual and audio pieces at Wattamolla Beach, as just a couple of examples. However, it is in the news at the moment, with this particular article referring to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s role as ‘artist-in-residence’ at Brisbane’s domestic and international airports through ‘pop up’ performances there, and Opera Australia’s new presentation of Alan John’s wonderful opera of 1995, ‘The Eighth Wonder’, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House rather than within its opera theatre. As the tickets seem to be no less expensive, I wonder what the point is.... But am I simply not being open to the new, to the inventive? I would be interested to know what you think – you can read the full article by clicking here.
What I do love is music that connects people with music and with each other in whatever means possible – music in our community and for our community. I love the ‘flash mobs’ – that might be ensembles and orchestras, choirs and so on who appear as if out of nowhere in train stations, shopping centres, open spaces. I am sure you have seen some of them – there are loads of examples on YouTube – I particularly like this version of Beethoven’s 9th symphony in Barcelona – check it out by clicking here. I love the looks of surprise and joy on people as the music emerges unexpectedly in a place they are simply walking through.
I had the pleasure of having a little holiday sojourn in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago, and was delighted to find this piano – which you can see in the photo below – on Wellington’s harbour foreshore, on the way to the extraordinary and wonderful Te Papa Museum. A teenager was playing it for a little while – and well – surrounded by her friends before I was able to have a little play myself. Out-of-tune but it didn’t matter. It was magical to make some music on this lovely offering to all who passed it by.
This week’s music is the signature music from my previous album, ‘Meditation on Love’, which was written 6 years ago for my friend Ellen and her then husband-to-be, Christopher, in Canada on the occasion of their wedding. Happy anniversary, Ellen and Chris, and Happy Birthday, dear Ellen, for last week.
As always, for more details go to http://www.petawilliams.com.au/music_cd_baby/ .
Until next time,
Peta
PS Scroll down to the bottom of this web page to play the featured music.
Photograph: piano on the waterfront in Wellington, New Zealand, September 2016
(photograph taken by Peta Williams)