words
Reflections on The Seagull [pdf]
As part of my work as Artistic Director of Four Winds Festival, I commissioned The Seagull, by artists Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey. It was humbling and hugely affirming working with Maddie and Tim, nurturing The Seagull through its research, development and creation.
Four Winds Festival 2012 preface [pdf]
Between 2008-2012 I directed the Four Winds Festival. This experience taught me more than I can say about music and its potential for creating meaning and joy in our lives and communities.
APRA article [pdf]
April 2009 article, based on my Churchill Fellowship.
Churchill report [pdf]
In 2008 I undertook a Churchill Fellowship. It was an experience that fundamentally changed the way I understand my work. This is the official report.
Thesis excerpt [pdf]
In 2001 I submitted a doctoral thesis titled “Contemporary attitudes to the performance of baroque music: a synthesis and personal application.”
Years later, I can see how – at least in part – my own attitudes have shifted. Yet sections of the thesis are still strongly related to the way I think about the performance of historical music. Here’s an excerpt – the final chapter and postlude.
upon a time notes [pdf]
upon a time is a CD I made with my dear friend Poul Høxbro. It was released in 2004.
This is a medieval folk tale told to me by Poul. He heard it in Swedish. Years passed, during which time he told it many times, and in several languages. One night, surrounded by the Australian bush, he told it to me in Danish. I’ve written a version of my memory of it here in English.
The music that we play together has a similar history. Most of it is based on ancient themes. Over centuries, these tunes have been translated by all sorts of people. We’ve told and retold our versions so many times that they feel like our own. They’ve been reshaped and embellished to suit us and our instruments.
songs without words notes [pdf]
In 2006, I released my first CD with my wonderful friend Karin Schaupp. Here’s a series of stories I wrote to go in the booklet.
Il flauto dolce notes [pdf]
This tells you a little about the idea behind the Vivaldi Il flauto dolce disc I made way back in 2001, with inspiring Paul Dyer and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.