oscar

For two Pianos, played by myself and Fiona Loader. Composed and recorded by myself.
The fluidity of being in water is always something I enjoy, and so this piece is inspired by the strong currents and small swells, the waves within waves, the fluidity within them all, and acknowledging the ocean's power as a natural force - capable of both eroding great cliffs, but also "such gentle temper ... that scarcely will the very smallest shell / Be moved for days from where it sometime fell." ~ Keats  Technically speaking, there are some interesting time signatures, such as a 2,2,2,2,1 grouping of 9/8 and swaps between compound and simple time.  Additionally, there is a phasing section and some lush modal harmony, focusing on intervals of 5ths and 7ths.  Album art by www.kateeshillustration.com

Ocean Surges

An interesting improvised collaboration with Adam Melzer on prepared piano, and myself playing gong ageng wadon, gangsa pemadé, and half a réong.  This is the second of two improvised works, and is the more experimental of the two.

Antipodean Diptych - II

Oscar Smith is a promising young composer with a wide spectrum of interests. 
He is also very passionate about Balinese Gamelan and regularly studies in Bali with local musicians.  Oscar studied Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium, where he primarily studied with Michael Smetanin. Oscar’s works have been premiered by SPIRAL ensemble, Gondwana Chorale, St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, Voces Cælestium, double bassist Will Hansen, the Sydney Conservatorium Gamelan Ensemble, Gamelan Çudamani and Gamelan Salukat.