Rhapsody in Three
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Lau, Thomas
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KV Productions
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Research Background Of approximately 600 carillons around the world, only two are found in Australia-the National Carillon in Canberra and the Sydney University War Memorial Carillon in Sydney. The National Carillon is large by world standards and the largest in Australia, with 55 bells created by the renowned English bell founder, John Taylor & Co. Compositions for solo carillon are quite rare. But works specifically for carillon and other instruments where musicians perform together in the same 'space', that is without no sound delays, are virtually non-existent due to the practical, performance difficulties of such a set up.Research ContributionCommissioned by the National Authority of Australia, Rhapsody in Three is a six-minute work composed for the debut performance of a new music ensemble, Parillax Trio. The trio comprises Senior Carillonist Thomas Laue, saxophonist Benn Sutcliffe, and percussionist Veronica Bailey. The work is to be performed with all three members of the ensemble in the same space, enabling expressive musical features such as slowing down, playing in response to musical cues and gestures, and so forth. This was only possible due to a unique sound-system setup coordinated and planned by Thomas Laue, and implemented with a recording engineer and PA assistants. The composition itself presents a successful benchmark for taking full advantage of the long decay of English bronze bells, with its harmonic language that works with the unique tuning of bronze bells, namely the minor-third overtone, which does not exist in most other instruments. Research SignificanceLaue has devised a new language of writing for ensemble of carillon, saxophone, and marimba, a groundbreaking and unprecedented instrumental combination made possible with specialised sound gear and audio setup. The significance of this work is supported by the full support and funding from the National Capital Authority with sponsorship from Colliers Real Estate. The government agency also funded a professional mastered recording of the live world premiere concert, which had a relatively large turnout of almost 200 on Aspen Island.
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Restricted until
2037-12-31