Canberra Harp Concert: Songs of Nymphs

On Saturday 7 May, 7.30pm at the Wesley Music Centre, Canberra-based harpist, Tegan Peemoeller will be delving into the realms of fantasy in contemporary Canadian music inspired by myths and legends. The works for harp include Andrew MacDonald’s Electra of Atreus and Marjan Mozetich’s Songs of Nymphs, which range in character from striking to reflective. Tegan will be joined by soprano Katherine Warren in a variety of pastoral and romantic art songs.

This is a benefit concert presented by the Wesley Music Foundation, which has a special focus on the development of talented young musicians. Proceeds will support Tegan's harp studies in Canada.

Tegan Peemoeller

Katherine Warren

What: Harp & Voice Concert

When: Saturday 7 May at 7.30pm

Where: Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest (cnr Sydney Avenue)

Tickets: Adults $20, concession $15, full-time students $10 and children $5. No bookings required.

Enquiries: Wesley Music Centre.
Ph: 02 6232 7248

Alice in Antarctica!

'I hardly dared check on the harp once we got it back – I let it acclimatise in the cold room first and got myself a cup of tea – but when I checked the tuning it was bang on pitch – not a bit sharp and seemingly unconcerned!...' Read more from Alice here

Arparla: Australian tour and CD launch

Arparla is an internationally renowned Italian/Irish Duo, Davide Monti on baroque violin and Maria
Christina Cleary on baroque harp. The duo takes its inspiration from a desire to speak with music
(parla in Italian means “speak”), using the soft and refined sonorities of the harp and the
expressive range of colours of the violin, both instruments played according to the historical
way of playing.

Arparla is touring and teaching across Australia and Asia in March 2011.

Australian tour dates
10 March 1.10pm Perth, WA: St. George's College Chapel
12 March 3pm Perth, WA: St. Paul's Chapel, Mirrabooka
16 March 7pm Sydney, NSW: Humph Hall
21 March 8.30pm Woodend, VIC: St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Woodend Winter Arts Festival

Further information:
www.arparla.it
info@arparla.it

The duo will be launching their second CD,  Le Grazie del Violino, on the Stradivarius label (STR 33881). It is a collection of 17th century Italian instrumental music including works by Marini, Pandolfi-Mealli, Selma, Uccellini, Frescobaldi, Merula and Fontana. These pieces are highly experimental, but seek to represent the expressive affects (the graces) and human passions.

The collection is unique in that it is the first CD where the Arpa Doppia (the Baroque double harp) is exclusively used as the continuo instrument and the solo works for keyboard have never been recorded before on the harp. 

Harp on ice

 We couldn't resist reblogging this wonderfully evocative image of Alice Giles' lever harp on the 'beach' in Antarctica!

Alice has been using her field recorder to record the unique sounds of her vast surroundings, such as icebergs breaking, the icy Antarctic winds creating eerie aeolian effects as they blow through the harp strings, and the calls of Antarctica's natural inhabitants, elephant seals and penguins! Upon Alice's return, composition students at the Australian National University will be able to use this material to inspire and create new works. Read more on Alice's blog here.



Alice in Antarctica!

The inspiring Alice Giles can now add 'Antarctic Explorer' to her extensive and varied resume. Alice is the recipient of an Australian Antarctic Division Arts Fellowship to travel on the ‘Aurora’ to the Mawson Base in February and March 2011. Alice has the distinction of being the first Australian professional musician to perform in Antarctica (and as far as we know the first harpist!) and her musical presentation at the Mawson Base will celebrate the Centenary of the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

This project has a special personal connection for Alice as her grandfather Dr Cecil T. Madigan, was a member of the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914.

Alice will be performing, videoing and recording music composed especially for this project by Australian composers, as well as music connected to her grandfather's experience of Antarctica, such as well-loved hymns, gleaned from his 100 year old diaries.

You can follow Alice on her voyage as she is documenting this unique experience by blogging regularly from the ship. Her blog is interactive so you can ask her questions about her journey. We are interested to hear about how her electro-acoustic blue harp and her Andrew Thom lever harp, which the HCA team have nicknamed 'Muddy Waters' (because it's also blue), hold up in the icy, sub-zero temperatures!