Elanée Ensemble
Arts Tasmania Premiere
Jo St. Leon, viola
Stuart Thomson, double bass
The Collegiate Institute
Two works by Tasmanian composers received their premiere performances at this concert. The Elanée Ensemble is certainly to be commended for commissioning these and other new compositions over the last 2 years.
Angus Davison has just completed his first year of study at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music. He has already a considerable body of work to his credit. “Triptych” consists of three short “Sound Panels” titled “Announcement”, “Reverie” and “Curio”. Energetic and sometimes humorous, the music is always rhythmically inventive and engaging. The middle movement is reflective, suggesting a depth of emotional response rare in such a young composer.
Matthew Dewey’s “Suite Elanée”, in 4 movements, conveys a real sense of the possibilities for textural blend with these dark-hued instruments. The outer movements buzz with energy at cracking tempi. The second movement Presto provides the fullest contrast with dance-like music. The heart of the piece, though, is the “Elegy” where initially a flowing lyrical theme is presented by the viola to pizzicato from the bass. The position is then reversed with the double bass taking over, as the music becomes more intense. Jo St. Leon and Stuart Thomson played these impressive new pieces with commitment and conviction.
Peter Donnelly
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