Fragments of Solitude

Soundtrack for a documentary film of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung 2004
All sounds recorded with clarinets only.
Produced and mixed at Cl-Audiostudio, winter 2003 by Claudio Puntin

solo: Universe

Dedication from Fragments of Solitude
based on The Solitudes by Luis de Gongora, trans. Edith Grossman (2012)

As first piece of the cycle, Dedication is the pilgrim’s setting out point for the journey into solitude and the self. This piece is simple, a blank canvas, and will serve as a contrast with Wandering, the final piece, which uses the same text and melody influenced by the rest of the cycle’s material.

Here we discover innocence.

Lyrics
Text from The Solitudes by Luis de Góngora
as translated by Edith Grossman

Dedication to the Duke of Bejar (lines 1-4)

Steps of a wandering pilgrim are these,
The verses my sweet muse dictated to me:
in perplexing solitude
Some lost, yet others enlivened and inspired.

Credits
Composer: Cameron Lam
Author: Luis de Góngora
Translator: Edith Grossman

Soprano: Amelia Golding
Piano: Alison Cameron
Sound Engineer: James Passfield 

Dedication (Fragments of Solitude)

Offering from Fragments of Solitude
based on The Solitudes by Luis de Gongora, trans. Edith Grossman (2012)

Offering features the singer as the pilgrim, being subsumed by the tidal ocean (the piano) as the waves roll in and the water rises and falls. At various points the singers gives in to the ocean before emerging grateful for the stable rocks underfoot.

Here we discover resilience.

Lyrics:
Text from The Solitudes by Luis de Góngora
as translated by Edith Grossman

The First Solitude (lines 28-33)

He kisses the sand, and from the shattered ship
the spare and meager fragment
that brought him to the beach he offers the rocks:
even crags confess themselves
flattered by signs and shows of gratitude.

Credits:
Composer: Cameron Lam
Author: Luis de Góngora
Translator: Edith Grossman
Soprano: Amelia Golding
Piano: Alison Cameron
Sound Engineer: James Passfield
Photographer: Hayden Shepherd

Offering (Fragments of Solitude)

Liquor from Fragments of Solitude
based on The Solitudes by Luis de Gongora, trans. Edith Grossman (2012)

Liquor is part bawdy tavern song and part reflection on the beauty of nature and dawn. Either a warning against or exaltation of the various forms of fantasy or escape we seek in solitude.

Here we discover escapism.

Lyrics:
Text from The Solitudes by Luis de Góngora
as translated by Edith Grossman

The First Solitude (lines 321-328)

Liquor that Aurora wept
-if nectar is what she weeps -
before the Sun, is dried
by the bee, early riser
to sip at flowers and drink crystal drops,
in cells of liquid gold, in honeycombs
contained in the gallipot
carried by a mountain lad.

Credits:
Composer: Cameron Lam
Author: Luis de Góngora
Translator: Edith Grossman
Soprano: Amelia Golding
Piano: Alison Cameron
Sound Engineer: James Passfield
Photographer: Hayden Shepherd

Liquor (Fragments of Solitude)

Rest from Fragments of Solitude
based on The Solitudes by Luis de Gongora, trans. Edith Grossman (2012)

Rest can be considered to be a chant or a mantra, it focuses you inwards into listening and following your own breathing and by extension someone else’s. Allow space between each breath.

Here we discover stillness.

Lyrics:
Text from The Solitudes by Luis de Góngora
as translated by Edith Grossman

The First Solitude (lines 572-583)

A spacious circle made a peaceful center
for more avenues than a star has beams
of white poplars or perhaps of alders,
and this is where the Spring
-shod in Aprils, clad in Mays-
brings the gleam of crystal waves
to flinty rock rimmed round with jonquil blooms.
This center, then, the shaded
destination was of cowherds proximal,
delicious object of those come from afar,
where, even more weary than the traveler,
the road came to a rest.

Credits:
Composer: Cameron Lam
Author: Luis de Góngora
Translator: Edith Grossman
Soprano: Amelia Golding
Piano: Alison Cameron
Sound Engineer: James Passfield
Photographer: Hayden Shepherd

Rest (Fragments of Solitude)

Fortune from Fragments of Solitude
based on The Solitudes by Luis de Gongora, trans. Edith Grossman (2012)

A somewhat off-kilter hymn or prayer for another traveler.

Here we discover generosity.

Lyrics:
Text from The Solitudes by Luis de Góngora
as translated by Edith Grossman

The First Solitude (lines 897-903)

May the response of Fortune
to your farming be applause.
To the importune plow,
to the troublesome hoe
may a grateful field produce
for you – in uneven days –
well-threshed gold and nectar pressed.

Credits:
Composer: Cameron Lam
Author: Luis de Góngora
Translator: Edith Grossman
Soprano: Amelia Golding
Piano: Alison Cameron
Sound Engineer: James Passfield
Photographer: Hayden Shepherd

Fortune (Fragments of Solitude)

Death from Fragments of Solitude
based on The Solitudes by Luis de Gongora, trans. Edith Grossman (2012)

Death deals with the struggles of remorse, self-judgement and reflection which come with time spent alone. The repeated death chants are as much thinking music as a dirge for the dead.

Here we discover remorse.

Lyrics:
Text from The Solitudes by Luis de Góngora
as translated by Edith Grossman

The Second Solitude (lines 149-155)

Die, beloved enemy,
let my fault die, and your disdain, too late
a penitent, keep for it
a mere sigh that makes my death content
though it is not follow by
a fleeting or indifferent or weary
tear that dries before it is even wept.

Credits:
Composer: Cameron Lam
Author: Luis de Góngora
Translator: Edith Grossman
Soprano: Amelia Golding
Piano: Alison Cameron
Sound Engineer: James Passfield
Photographer: Hayden Shepherd

Death (Fragments of Solitude)

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Performed by Harry Heart and Gordo. Written by Harry Heart.
Recorded at REC Studios by Tom Garnett and at Arthur St Studios by Harry Heart.
Mixed and produced by Vincent Nydam and Harry Heart.
Mastered by Andrew Edgson at Studios 301.

Epiphany

'The Fine Art of Conversation' (2015) for string quartet performed by the Huon Quartet.

More info and sheet music at: https://angusdavison.com/

'The Fine Art Of Conversation' for string quartet (2015)

POWERFUL WOM*N, 2017! A new song cycle in three movements. Music by me, text by Mary Eliza Fullerton (Australia, 1868–1946), Lesbia Harford (Australia, 1891-1927), and Elinor Morton Wylie (USA, 1885-1928). 

This sneak peek contains excerpts from each movement. Performed live (brilliantly) by Cassandra Humble, soprano, and Andrew Georg, piano. Thank you! 

Program notes by Cassandra: "Rachel and I share a strong interest in equality, feminism and in observing how we fit into this world. The stories we chose to tell through this cycle reflect the journeys of Australian women through life - whether that journey starts as a little girl in rags singing on a door step or as a socialite disconnected from the world. The power of a story loved well and the magic that comes with the retelling is such that the injustices and struggles in the world can be forgotten for a while, and just being present can be enough."

SNEAK PEEK! Excerpts from song cycle "Powerful Wom*n"

When We Speak (2016) by Lisa Cheney (Australia, 1987)
for cello and electroacoustic track
Commissioned by the VIPA Festival for Ensemble Interface
Premiered June 30, 2017 in Valencia, Spain
Recording Engineer/Mixed by Jason Thorpe Buchanan

Ensemble Interface
Christophe Mathias, violoncello

PROGRAM NOTES & BIO:
When We Speak for solo cello and electroacoustic track seeks to comment on broader issues surrounding gender inequality and these considerations on my compositional practice. Throughout the work the interweaving of many ‘voices’ is present in: my own musical language, the music and speech of respected Finnish composer, Kaija Saariaho, the expression of the live cellist and their own literal voice.  This, at times semi-improvised cello part, weaves its way through an atmospheric soundscape challenging and questioning the role of the live musician to blend in, fight against or rise above the sound world. The accompanying recorded musical sounds are extracted from Saariaho’s own compositions, with special weight placed upon manipulated excerpts from Saariaho’s own solo cello work Sept Papillons.

Lisa Cheney is based in Melbourne. Her music communicates through varied styles which often explore notions of connection and authenticity through fascinations with the ‘edge’ of beauty; expression, poeticism, fragility, delicacy, resonant space, pacing, light and dark and atmospheric soundscapes. Cheney’s work has been described as ‘atmospheres of unfathomable spaciousness’ (Partial Durations), ‘melodic slivers with plaintive intensity’ (The Australian) and ‘fantastic and frightening in its detail and colour’ (Resonate). Her body of work incorporates orchestra, chamber, voice, acousmatic collaborations and works for theatre and ballet. Her music has been commissioned and performed by The Southern Cross Soloists, The Australian Voices, the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Plexus, Syzygy Ensemble, Sydney Antiphony, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Ballet amongst others. She is a Director and Curator of Making Waves: an online listening/podcast space dedicated to Australian composition and is currently completing her PhD in Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM), supervised by Elliott Gyger.

When We Speak (2016) by Lisa Cheney - Ensemble Interface

@2017 
for solo double bass

Written for Will Hansen (SPIRAL) 
Premiered March 2017 @ the Red Rattler, Marrickville

Dark Matter to me is the indescribable. No arrays are the same; each with their own flickers and flecks. I wanted to capture out of the double bass the unexpected. The sound worlds I’m exploring come from the bass’ natural resonance, yet in these sounds lie so much intricacy, each microsection so intrinsically ornate and rich.

Dark Matter

Original orchestral work by Lisa Cheney that includes an orchestration of the Russian folk song Along the Peterskaya performed by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Elena Schwarz.

Audio recorded by Toby Frost and Veronika Vincze of ABC Classic FM.

Death (Fragments of Solitude)

Cameron Lam - Composer

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