At the end of last year I had the opportunity to create a soundscape for a new contemporary dance work “Whenua” by Karen Barbour.
The work was premiered at a conference at Waikato University.
In the recording and creation of this piece I had the privilege of working with Alistair Fraser playing his selection of taonga puoro. We recorded his parts at the University of Otago Music Department Albany Street Studios with Stephen Stedman.
Have a listen to an edited remix version of the piece below:
I will be performing a live concert of ambient music for piano and electronics at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Saturday 25th October.
Along with the live performance there will be a number of sonic art installations I have created for you to become immersed in.
Entry by donation to the Himalayan Trust – as part of my fundraising for the Step Higher Award.
Here is a pic of my practice setup for this concert:
I am very excited to have been awarded the Mozart Fellowship at Otago University for a second year! This means I will get to spent 2015 engaging in full time creative work. It is an absolute privilege to have received this position. You can read the announcement here: http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago078803.html
Having another year to focus on composition is an exciting prospect. Here is a collection of most of the work I have created so far this year:
Films:
Flare – with Dan Inglis and Dujon Cullingford
Whakaika Nei – with Louise Potiki Bryant, Rua McCallum and Horomona Horo
Partiality – with Tim Evans
To Darkness – with Chris Lam Sam
Princess Rose and the Rose Flowers and the Other Princesses – with Joe Hitchcock and Chris Lam Sam
Blonde – with Joanna Strange
on a trouvé l’horizon grand – with Ben Woollen and Chris Lam Sam
Penny Black (soundmix) – with Joe Hitchcock
Lapwing (soundmix) – with Joe Hitchcock
Compositions:
Imaginary Communications – a suite for piano and electronics
Whit-woo – for solo bass
convoluted – for orchestra
Infinite possibilities – for various recorded instruments
Late Song – for soprano, chorus, piano, violin, flute, clarinet and backing track
#tinyelephants – a sound art piece
Signature Asymmetry – for percussion and fixed media
Seaward Moments – for bansuri, field recordings and backing track with Adam Page
The Song of Kauri – a musical interpretation of childrens story by Melinda Szymanik
Through the pulsating debris – for four pianos
L.o.q.shun – for voice
Without Contact – soundscape and light with Martyn Roberts
Another World Asleep – soundscape and light with Martyn Roberts
Cosmic Outlaw – with Chris Lam Sam
Suburban Wires – with Chris Lam Sam
Feathered Resonance – soundscape to accompany artwork by Madeleine Child in Wallace Art Awards
Remixes:
John Egenes – Little Bird
John Egenes – Crazy Sons of Bitches
Subject2change – #22
Ed Zuccollo – Marianas Trenchcoat
Nick Granville – Get Lucky
Plus some various production, arrangement and orchestration work for various projects!
And there is a bunch of new stuff to come!! Exciting times ahead.
Here is a sneaky little hint toward a new project for the end of the year!
Thanks everyone for your support!
I recently designed a sonic art installation piece called ‘#tinyelephants’.
This work is a soundscape accompanied by a large printing of this photo:
#tinyelepahnts- photographic accompaniment to sonic art piece.
The originally purpose for this piece was to be observed in the context of a looping installation.
The sonic art element can be heard here:
#tinyelephants from Jeremy Mayall on Vimeo.
Am in the midst of working on a new cross-disciplinary multimedia piece for the Sir Edmund Hillary Programme to be premiered at an event in August. Slowly managing to convert ideas from the poem into musical arrangements to get things ready for when the rehearsals start.
While I continue working on that, here is a recent piece. Another in the ‘Imaginary Communications’ series I have been working on throughout my time as the Mozart Fellow.
This edition also has a video accompaniment filmed during sunrise near Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula.
Or the audio only version can be found here:
Still busily working away on various projects… a couple of experimental films, an album of instrumental music, an orchestral piece, a couple of multimedia/theatre pieces and anything else life throws my way! It is an exciting time – loving the creative work.
On the past weekend I spent a lot of time out in the beautiful landscape of the lower South Island recording sounds. The first stop was a trip to Invercargill to meet phenomenal musician and all-around great guy Adam Page.
It was great to spend the day with Adam talking about making music, performing, creativity, meditation, beards and other general fun stories! The day even included a quick visit out to Demolition World with writer Duncan Sarkies. This place is something else. If you ever find yourself in Invercargill go and check it out.
We eventually ended up heading out to the Seaward Bush Reserve to do some recording. It was great to get a performer like Adam into nature and capture the sound of his playing alongside the birds and other creatures living in these amazing places. It was a great opportunity and will result in some great music that I can’t wait to share!
The next morning I went out along the Otago Peninsula toward Taiaroa Head and back to Otakou to record some of the sounds and wildlife of that area. I got near Taiaroa Head at sunrise and got some sounds, and the made stops at various points along the way to capture other interesting elements. These sounds will become part of a couple of new pieces I am working on – including a new dance film project with Caroline Plummer Community Dance Fellow and choreographer Louise Potiki Bryant. Again, more to be shared later!
It was a beautiful chance to see more of this area, and to be inspired by this place, and my time here in creating a range of new works.
I am loving this opportunity as the Mozart Fellow. I can not express my gratitude enough.
Another quick update, still furiously working away on the phd. I believe the end is in sight… I hope so!
I am also working on a piece for four pianos, a piece for guitar, some solo instrument pieces, and a couple of new larger scale theatrical pieces (more details to come soon).
In the meantime, here are a couple of recent pieces. First, a film from the 48hours film fest made by Joe Hitchcock and his daughters. Scored by The Scorelocks Collective.
A cute little story about a group of princesses.
Princess Rose and the Rose Flowers and the Other Princesses. from Joe Hitchcock on Vimeo.
And then we have a new piece for piano and electronics in my ‘Imaginary Communication’ series.
Another new music update!
This time more music composed with Chris Lam Sam for The Scorelocks Collective.
After composing the music for two films in the 48hour film fest (one in Auckland and Wellington) we also had the time to put together a couple of extra pieces, for no other reason other than enjoying the art and process of composition.
So, here are those two pieces.
First up, a piece inspired by a photo submission from master composer Stephen Gallagher. This piece is called “Suburban Wires”.
The second piece is inspired by the concept of the space western. This piece is called “Cosmic Outlaw”.
More new music coming soon!
Recently I have been working on a series of piano and electronics pieces – ‘Imaginary Communication’. So far I have composed two and co-composed a third with Chris Lam Sam (The Scorelocks Collective).
These pieces will be amongst some of the ongoing work for my time as the Mozart Fellow.
Here are the three pieces. Best listened to on headphones.
