About the music first: Masque was commissioned by The Haydn Bande, a Canberra-based chamber orchestra which specialises in Classical and Rococo repertoire. This snippet features the viola, wielded here by John Ma, and plays around with the Tudor pop tune The Leaves Be Green.
Verklärter Bungalow is a celebration of the Christmas illuminations in suburban Canberra, written for the cellist and singer Lowri Blake. It's on her CD Captain Cook's Cello.
Sir Isaac Newton contributed the lyrics to this brief extract:
'The Changing of Bodies into Light, and Light into Bodies, is very conformable to the course of Nature, which seems delighted with Transmutations.' Opticks (1730)
Inflatable Santas, shining with an eldritch Inner Light, seem to be this year's big thing.
Kern was written for a dance performance for the opening of Dianne Fogwell's Resonance exhibition. It relates particularly to a print based on an image from the early fifteenth century Chantilly manuscript — a heart-shaped musical score of Baude Cordier's Belle bonne sage. I've used elements of the melody plus sounds from the printing process, along with a swarm of backyard bees. I'm playing a collection of 'early'-ish instruments here: chalumeau, bass viol, harp, recorder, Egyptian tabla, cittern and a suitably ancient computer.
Starling is a new clarinet quartet, played here by Clarity on their latest CD Second Door on the Left.
Then some early music, in a couple of respects: Dan and the Wombat is based on a couple of 16th century dance tunes, and comes from the vintage Pyewackett album The Man in the Moon drinks Claret.
High Plains, Drifting concerns a trip across Salisbury Plain on a bright January night in a valiant but unheated old Renault. An unscheduled stop gave us the chance to view Stonehenge through the banks of snow. Luckily, we had our trusty hot water bottles, and sat back briefly to dream of other times. Unreliable, wishful memories of a warm and drowsy summer: Ralph Vaughan Williams dancing cheek to cheek with Glenn Miller. From the album Spirit of Place.
There's more about what I do at www.ianblake.net, where you'll find more to listen to, a bio, reviews and, of course, a chance to own various Blake CDs; plus the latest details of gigs and projects.
And you might like to take a look at some other Spaces: Luminous is a collaboration with Helen Rivero. Visit the Helen Rivero and Ian Blake space to hear some of Australia's scariest lullaby album, recorded at Blue Bear Studio.
The Pocket Score Company is a full range vocal consort of Renaissance blokes; Pyewackett had a unique take on pop music from the last five centuries.
And lastly, do have a listen to Cassidy's Ceili: Canberra's premier psychogoidelic party band and darlings of the West Belconnen smart set.
