Here at Making Waves, we’ve been wanting to collate a “Piano Waves” playlist for over a year now.  This staple instrument attracts so much solo repertoire that it can be hard for performers and listeners to know where to start.  There is of course the burden of tradition, of a solid canon of classical piano repertoire, but also the instrument’s versatility in playing a huge role in jazz and popular musics.  In this month’s playlist we broadened our definition to “Keyboard” to include not only acoustic works, but some amazing tracks in which the piano meets technology: via live electronic manipulation, the use of electric instruments and MIDI, input via audience mobile phones, and even a robotic piano named RHEA.  We’ve also split the playlist into a Soundcloud segment (c.50min) and a YouTube segment (c.20min) in order to include a wide array of works. Listen, enjoy and share!

Keyboard Waves (November 2016)

I/O explores multiple approaches to the sounds possible on the piano via electronic manipulation. Nothing is external; every element of the work originates in the analogue sounds made on the disklavier, a sort of modern, digitally-enabled version of the player piano. 

I/O (2014)

Hyperbodies (2015)
for computer controlled piano (RHEA)

Premiere: 25 October 2015, Phipps Hall at the University of Huddersfield, UK.
Made as part of a workshop at the University of Huddersfield run by Prof. Peter Ablinger and Prof. Winfried Ritsch, 19-25 October 2015.

Information about the work:
http://danielportelli.com.au/hyperbodies

Hyperbodies

Taking the live setup through its paces. A little number for piano and electronics. This track is entirely live. The only editing is the courtesy top and tail.

Earthquakes Behind Closed Doors

Born spontaneously on a lazy Sunday afternoon, this piece marks the first of what will develop into a collection of vignettes for various ensembles. The aim for this piece and for the works that will follow it, is quite simply to build an impression of a moment. In this case, quite a lovely moment.  

This work can be purchased at https://ethanconnormcalister.bandcamp.com/releases

Sunday Afternoon || Vignette no.1 || for piano solo

Performance March 2013, Auer Hall, Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington IN, USA - Premiered by Kornilios Michailidis

Six Piano Minikins

Making Waves is a monthly series of curated playlists streaming one hour of quality, new composed music.  Founded in 2015, Making Waves shines a spotlight on the music of Australian composers. Fresh playlists are released on the first day of each month and older playlists are made available all year round via our archives; perfect for those with just a few minutes to explore one track or for hours perusing a myriad of diverse sound-worlds.


The project offers wider exposure to emerging composers, their music and the talented performers who champion it. We also provide an easy-to-access platform for listeners to sit back and enjoy a curated hour of exciting new music or explore our living composers more actively.  The playlist themes (and media through which they’re shared eg. Soundcloud, YouTube) evolve each month depending on the content received directly from our talented composers.

At its core Making Waves is a curated listening space. In 2016 we branched into producing our own content through a special project, Making Conversation, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign. Making Conversation: Australian Composers Project is a series of podcasts and vodcasts presenting the human side of living Australian composers, released on popular audiovisual and social platforms mid-2017.
Composers Lisa Cheney (Melbourne) and Peggy Polias (Sydney) are curating this project.

 Listeners, we encourage you to explore current and past playlists and discover more about our featured composers. 

Composers, we encourage you to send us links to your streamable audio via our website. Visit: www.makingwavesnewmusic.com for more information.

Keyboard Waves (November 2016)

Making Waves New Music