Name: Right Brain Music Podcast - Episode 15: Quest Ensemble's Radical Take on Classical Tradition by Right Brain Records
Duration: 37 min 51 s
Description: Quest Ensemble is a dynamic contemporary classical chamber trio based in London. The trio has traditional training and roots, but takes a radical turn in making improvisation a key factor in composing and performing their music. Here, we get to know QE, learn about their unique approach and hear generous helpings from their new album.

Full Album on bandcamp: https://mulchcult.bandcamp.com/album/collective-sessions-vol-1

Collective Vision

Messing around - a track created entirely using free sound libraries from Spitfire's LABS series: Granular Whalesong, Christmas, Bass Guitar, Electric Piano, Hand Bells, Percussion, Tape Orchestra. Recorded and mixed in Cakewalk from Bandlab using free plugins: Sonitus Delay, Boost11, Fresh Air.

Mostly improvised, with a little planning on the electric piano chords.

Written, performed, engineered, and mixed by Jon Davis.

Out of the Labs #1

M-Aquatic Garden

Sunrise Piece

Ambergris
Ambergris is a 30 minute live performance based upon a 3-minute composition commissioned for the exhibition Apologue Isle, shown at Contemporary Art Tasmania in October and November 2024. The performance combined an extrapolated version of the original composition ( built from field recordings) with improvised bass guitar. Big Thanks to Andy Hutson for commissioning my piece and for creating Apologue Isle
 
Live footage of Ambergris - https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1035385453
Apologue Isle Website - https://www.apologueisle.com/

Apologue Isle
An apologue is a moral fable, often using animals or non-human entities as the primary drivers of narrative.  The ‘apple isle’ was a nickname given to lutruwita/Tasmania to highlight the importance of the state’s apple export industry; with the first apple trees being planted by colonist William Bligh in 1788. These trees mark the beginning of industrial agriculture and extractive industry, and their subsequent impacts on the landscape and original inhabitants of lutruwita.   From these converging starting points, Apologue Isle aims to reframe the human perspective and create new stories that propose a world inhabited not by humans battling nature, but a complex, entwined system of objects, beings and space.  After many conceptual iterations, the project eventually began as an invitation. Five writers were asked to create a new story, with two simple requirements: it must refer to the natural world, and at least one character must be non-human. These stories were then transformed into sets, puppets were built, music composed and narration recorded.     The project unfolded like a surrealist exquisite corpse, each person building on the work of the one before, whilst retaining creative control over their own work. This aimed to enhance a sense of trust between collaborators through the giving over of ownership and acceptance of the other’s intent. 
The result is five unique stories, told through an unexpected array of characters, that reflect on what it means to live in our world at this moment in history. And alongside these stories is a burgeoning community of creative individuals, brought together through the shared ideas and ethics of the project.

Apologue Isle - Ambergris (Live Snippet)

Destruction Bay

Foot Candle

Long Exposure

Circus Song (c)2016 m.spear

One possible version of Orbital Viewing Lounge. Backing ambient track by Jon Davis, with extra tracks submitted by Pete Tutak and Forrest Fang. Instead of just stacking and mixing, the contributions are offset, with Pete's starting first, then Forrest's.

Orbital Viewing Lounge (Mix 03: Tutak/Fang Sequential)

Quest Ensemble is a dynamic contemporary classical chamber trio based in London. The trio has traditional training and roots, but takes a radical turn in making improvisation a key factor in composing and performing their music. Here, we get to know QE, learn about their unique approach and hear generous helpings from their new album.

The Other Side

Right Brain Music Podcast - Episode 15: Quest Ensemble's Radical Take on Classical Tradition

Right Brain Records is a non-profit label that promotes exploration of uncharted musical territories. Our Right Brain Music Podcast explores the realm of the musical unknown and artists who pitch their tents there.  Come along for the journey.

Right Brain Music Podcast - Episode 15: Quest Ensemble's Radical Take on Classical Tradition

Right Brain Records

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