“Symphony GFC” was composed by Gawain Davey to capture the changing emotions investors faced during the three phases of the global financial crisis (GFC) – the rising share market, its fall and recovery. “Think Vivaldi’s four seasons, but done to the three seasons of the GFC” says Dr Douglas Turek, Investment Adviser and Finance Commentator who commissioned this work.

The symphony was recorded on 17 February 2014 by Orchestre Nouveau, conducted by Zach Tay, and released on 6 March 2014 to mark the 5 year anniversary of the lowest point reached by stock prices during the GFC.

For more information, and to download the track, go to symphonygfc.com.

Symphony GFC

'Kaoru' is one of 21 individual songs I wrote for the touring choir Wayfarers Australia between 2012 and 2014. Each song was written for a particular person.

Kaoru is from Japan. On the tour she was quiet, hard-working and went about getting things done with a minimum of fuss. She would deflect praise, and preferred to compliment and encourage others. She played a sparrow in one of our children's story-songs which is where I found the inspiration for the lyrics.
Once I'd revealed my secret composing project to the choir, Kaoru began to help transcribe my songs so they could be sung. This was a touching gesture, but to her it was a chance to improve her theory!

This performance is a live recording from So Good A Thing, December 2013, in Canberra.

"The Wayfarers", my suite of 21 songs for choir, received its Melbourne premiere at a concert on July 13, 2014.
The entire concert can be streamed and purchased from https://gawaindavey.bandcamp.com/album/gawain-davey-the-wayfarers-melbourne-concert-july-2014

The Wayfarers: Kaoru

I notice some people on Soundcloud putting up ideas and experiments as well as completed pieces. This is an excerpt from an improvisation at my parents' place this year, on their old upright. I was inspired by their new wind chimes which are tuned to a pentatonic scale.

The whole session is about 11 minutes. If you want to hear more, let me know.

The picture is from a Buddhist temple in China...

pentatonic improv

Cold the night when his ship sank
It failed to reach the other bank
And now I stand here quietly
Wishing he were safe at sea.

Cold the northward wind does blow
Freezing water waits below
And though I know she waits for me
They'll say I was lost at sea.


Please note, this track is a demo as it's a live recording, and contains only the first 2 verses. The full song has 4 verses - a recording is in the works.

Background:
I penned the first verse in the back of my diary, while on a tram. At the time it was mostly poetry, with a vague melody.

Around that time I would often hear my housemate Will improvising long, rich chords, and realised that his accordion would make the perfect accompaniment.

We worked together on the song, with Will creating the beautiful improvised joining sections.

Vocals - Gawain Davey
Button accordion - Will Hoffmann

Lyrics by Gawain Davey
Music composed and improvised by Gawain Davey and Will Hoffmann

Recorded live in Gawain's bedroom, Coburg, 2014

Mastered by David Gild at Audio Artistry

Cover art by Gawain Davey
Photo by Yurii Khimanin
https://unsplash.com/@khimanin

© 2014, 2017 Gawain Davey and Will Hoffmann

Safe at Sea (Demo)

Safe At Sea (demo)

THE MIDDLE GROUND - for recorder soloist and chamber orchestra
---
Is compromise itself a weak or a strong position? Or merely a compromise?

This question led to Gawain Davey's "The Middle Ground". Lush but indecisive strings precede stuttering wind figures, over which a recorder solo soars, strong and certain – leading us through gripping chords and fleeting moods, before fading back into melancholic uncertainty.

Composed by Gawain Davey
Performed by Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta and Ryan Williams (recorders)
Conducted by Patrick Burns

Artistic Director: Michael Bakrnčev

Live performance recorded by Ryan Williams, 31 October 2015, at St. Stephens Church, Richmond
Mastered by David Gild at The Hougang Room, Singapore

CREATION
At a Melbourne Met concert in early 2015, I mentioned to Michael Bakrnčev that I was interested in writing for the group, and he invited me to write a short piece of music for an upcoming concert.
Michael's initial idea was something gentle to go 'in between' the other orchestral pieces. This sparked the mood I wanted, which was kind of lush and sustained chords, at least partially.
The concept of being 'in the middle' was also something I was examining in my own life at the time, often playing devil's advocate in serious discussions, choosing not to take sides, or being unable to make decisions. A friend suggested that finding decisions difficult or impossible needn't be a weakness.
So I wanted to explore the concept of compromise or 'The Middle Ground' as being a place of strength rather than just 'giving in'.
The opening sounds were inspired by an ambient group called Shivering In Static from Croatia.

THANKS
My thanks go to Michael Bakrnčev and the Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta, who believed in, supported, and nurtured this music to existence using less funds than the smell of an oily rag. Thanks also to Ryan Williams for his assistance, educating me about Ganassi instruments and various recorders, and for his spirited playing.
Thanks to Raph and Will for philosophical discussions and artistic processes that inspired the piece, and to David for bringing the recording to life. Thanks also to Merry, James, Meg and Ross for art advice.

Please enjoy this little orchestra piece. Maybe one day there can be a studio recording… or another performance!

Live at St. Stephens Church, Richmond

The Middle Ground

Classical composition
Piano songwrityness
Saxophone melodies
Clarinet embellishment
Vocal innovation

Gawain Davey

Popular tracks