World Premiere Studio Recording | Trombone / Bass drums: Dirk Amrein | Recording Engineer: Phill Phelps | Mix: Marc Yeats

'prorrhesis' has been composed from a particular composition and performance aesthetic. Some of the music contained in this score is intentionally impossible to play at speed.  

Large leaps across registers, rapid execution of quarter tones and very fast, precisely notated passage work all contribute to the many challenges faced by the performer.   
I do not anticipate a 'perfect' performance and realise that some aspects of this piece will need to be 'sketched-out', approximated and to a certain extent, improvised to realise the music I have written. Flexibility is key to production. Whilst every care should be taken to be true to the manuscript within areas where this is possible and practical, interpretation and 'best-attempt' are desirable outcomes at points of extreme virtuosity or impossibility.  

In pushing what is technically possible to the absolute limit and sometimes beyond,  a brave, risk-taking performer will exceed the usual confines of their own technique to capture something of the colour, energy, risk and dynamism of the music that 'safer' forms of notation and performance style would inhibit.   

What is notated is an ideal. What is performed is a flexible realisation of that ideal.   

prorrhesis: historical context 

prorrhesis was part of the ancient Greek Eleusinian Mysteries. prorrhesis was the official announcement of the start of the rites. This announcement occurred on the 15th day of Boedromion (September), and was given by the hierophantes.     Instrumentation:  Tenor trombone (player to be seated) 2 differently pitched bass drums both operated by foot-pedal.   

Duration: circa 12.5 minutes.

Prorrhesis

Musician-Creative-Photographer-Artist-Educator who leans toward exploratory and experimental music. Involved in several group projects as well as producing free standing material. Performer, composer, producer and teacher.

Marc Yeats is an internationally renowned composer and visual artist whose compositions have been performed by the most noted of orchestras and ensembles across the globe. These include UK companies such as The London Sinfonietta and The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and the Halle Orchestra and Chorus. Further afield, Marc’s work has also been performed by the Tokyo City Philharmonic, the Atlanta based, Chamber Cartel, and many others. His compositions have gained great acclaim through many radio broadcasts for the BBC and also been broadcast in many other countries including the US, Germany and New Zealand.

Marc’s relationship with the BBC is both strong and enduring, starting with a BBC Scotland performance by the Edinburgh String Quartet more than 20 years ago. His first orchestral work – I See Blue – conducted by Martyn Brabbins, received much acclaim when first performed around the same time. This led to specific BBC commissions, including a piano concerto to open Piano 2000 in Manchester, with Kathryn Stott as soloist, and a solo harpsichord piece ‘Rhema’, performed by Mahan Esfahani and broadcast in 2010 by BBC Radio 3 from the Clothworkers’ Centenary Concert Hall in Leeds.

Selection as one of just 10 to attend the legendary Hoy Summer School in 1994 brought Marc into contact with the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. At the completion of the course, Max was keen to support and promote Marc’s work, and conducted his first commission with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the St. Magnus Festival in 1997. He and Marc continued to share ideas, and Max took a great interest in Marc’s visual art and compositional work with mobile technologies and a range of asynchronous structural approaches to composition.

Marc is excited to have recently been appointed composer-in-residence to Yeovil District and Dorchester County Hospitals, a position he has also held with other UK and US organisations. Work such as My Blood Is As Red As Yours’ (an orchestral and choral piece commissioned by the Halle to celebrate World Aids Day in 2008 and performed at the Bridgewater Hall) and recent work, such as ‘shapeshifter’ and ‘the observation quartets’ continues to enhance his reputation as a leading contemporary composer.

Meridian Brass is an experienced and vibrant brass quartet. A unique ensemble, the members of Meridian Brass are passionate about all types of chamber music, collaborating with dancers, film makers and actors, the group constantly aims to push boundaries and expectations in search of excellence.
 
Challenging any existing preconceptions of the genre, with an emphasis on commissioning and creating new works and arrangements, the group has performed throughout Europe with their exciting and unique, lyrical sound.


LUKE PAULDING (1987) is swiftly emerging as a prominent voice in Australia’s younger generation of composers. His music has been performed in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Singapore and across much of Australia, by ensembles such as ELISION Ensemble, Speak Percussion, Ensemble Linea, Namascae Lemanic Modern Ensemble, ensemble interface, Quiver – new music ensemble, Kupka's Piano, as well as the Tasmanian & Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, with radio broadcasts on ABC Classic FM and 3MBS Fine Music. 

Luke has received support and commissions from the Australian Council for the Arts, Cybec Foundation, IETM–International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts, Royaumont Foundation, Melbourne City Council, Arts Centre Melbourne, Musical Society of Victoria, among others. Passionate about exploring other art forms, Luke has collaborated on projects for Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Theatre Works, Aphids and Chamber Made Opera, and has attracted Green Room Award nominations for his original sound design in theatre. From notated compositions through to subterranean sound installation and collaborative art projects, Luke's music has featured at Melbourne International Arts Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Metropolis New Music Festival, Castlemaine Arts Festival and Totally Huge New Music Festival. Also a trained pianist and tubist, Luke is a founding member and co-director of new music ensemble, Quiver, dedicated to innovative performances of contemporary art music. 

Luke graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2010 with numerous awards, including the Marion Isobel Thomas Estate Award and Atheneum Prize. Through initial studies at the VCA and selective professional development programs around Australia and Europe (including the 2013 « Nouvelle Voix » course at Royaumont Abbey) his compositional mentors have included Chris Dench, Brian Ferneyhough and Liza Lim.