RESPLENDENT in feather-shaped silver brooches symbolising flight, Canberra Wind Symphony launched itself in fine fashion at the ACT Legislative Assembly Reception Room.
Grey and the Wind Symphony at the Legislative Assembly.
As well, the newly appointed artistic director and principal conductor, Geoff Grey, had plenty to say about the new ensemble – a project of Canberra City Band.
Comprised of “passionate, technically stunning in a highly motivated musicians,” up to 45 of them at any one time, the Wind Symphony would premiere at the High Court on Sunday, July 5, and go on to perform in concert venues and boutique art spaces around town – “maybe places like the Canberra Glassworks,” Grey suggested.
McLean questioned Grey about the need for another musical ensemble so Grey explained how a wind ensemble, in which each instrumentalist had a separate part, could be uniquely powerful. Then to the brooches and the concept of the feathers. The Wind Symphony aims to fly high, and while it prefers to see those who support the new venture as “partners” rather than sponsors, it will brand contributions as ‘flight partners’.
The new Wind Symphony intends presenting seminal works from a wide array of impressive 20th and 21st Century composers, highlighting Australian works. Never one given to understatement, Grey said the introduction of the Canberra Wind Symphony was the most significant impact on the large ensemble landscape in this region since Ernest Llewellyn took over the reins of the CSO 50 years ago.
McLean outlined the successes of the Canberra City Band over 90 years and its growing national reputation over recent years, that had happened “both efficiently and quietly.” In the question-and-answer session with Grey, the pair outlined the absence of stringed instruments in a wind symphony, (“CityNews” did spot a lonely double bass in the ensemble) the musicians a gave us a taste of works to come, performing with what Grey called “snappy clarity”.
“An inventive wind symphony, right on your doorstep,” Grey pointed out, would cost money. New musical scores are priced at between $500 and $800 to buy scores and it was much more expensive to commission new work. With the intention to perform works by American, Japanese, British and Australian composers, therefore, they were looking for “full-flight partners” chipping in between $250 and $10,000.
McLean mused that it was not impossible that Canberrans will to see Handel’s “Water Music” and “Fireworks” performed while the wind musicians floated down the lake. Musical fireworks was certainly on show as Grey and the ensemble struck up with a concluding fanfare.
More at canberracityband.com/canberra-wind-symphony/
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