Ensemble 642 is Hannah Lane (baroque harp) and Nicholas Pollock (theorbo, lutes, baroque guitar). The ensemble explores the unique sound world of  rare, early plucked string instruments, performing music from the late-sixteenth to early-eighteenth centuries, both as a duo and in collaboration with leading  vocalists and instrumentalists.
Inspired by a mutual fascination and passion for the art of basso continuo—an improvisatory practice fundamental to the performance of baroque music—and by their desire to pursue musical experimentation based on historical sources, Ensemble 642 creates innovative concert programs in collaboration with the finest early music performers in Australia and beyond, bringing to life exquisite music that hasn’t been heard for hundreds of years with the aim of sharing the spirit and emotion of baroque music with contemporary audiences.

The Federation Bells is an installation comprising 39 upturned bells. Located in Birrarung Marr, Melbourne. The bells were created for celebrations for the centenary of Australia’s federation in 2001.

The Federation Bells were designed by Anton Hasell and Neil McLachlan in collaboration with Swaney Draper Architects.

Following a recent refurbishment, the bells are sounding better than ever: they can be heard daily 8-9am, 12.30-1.30pm and 5pm-6pm. More than 100 compositions have been created for the Federation Bells and many of them can be heard in an evolving weekly schedule.

The Federation Bells Composer is a ground-breaking website that lets you compose music for Melbourne’s Federation Bells. Using an intuitive drag ‘n’ drop timeline, create a virtual multi-track masterpiece using the 39 distinctive bells.

The Federation Bells installation is managed by the City of Melbourne.

Imagine Fleetwood Mac with more of an organic, Celtic-inflected lilt of vocals and melody, and you have a rough idea of why The Heart Collectors are so instantly appealing. Add the sentimentality of 70’s inspired harmonies, combined with a progressive lyrical wisdom to invite positive change, and you can see why they are taking the international folk music scene by storm. Since releasing their debut album in 2013, The Heart Collectors have been making waves internationally – recording two studio albums in Texas; representing Australia with showcases at South By South West Music Festival 2016, ’17, ’18; and launching their music on the UK and Irish scene with their first tour in 2017. There, they enjoyed the warmth and receptivity of UK audiences with a 60 date tour. With soaring cello, intricate guitar, sparkling mandolin, boot banging banjo, and passionate strikes of a tambourine, these four charismatic, happy performers create real musical synergy, with a marriage of progressive folk feels, rock sensibilities and clean classical precision. Get ready to have your heart collected…

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