Australian Youth Orchestra
AYO National Music Camp 2013: Blog 5
AYO Blog
AYO National Music Camp 2013: Blog 5
By Rachel Landgren
Day 9: Re-tuning
Our second week at National Music Camp got off to the same bright and sunny start as last Monday. Everyone was fresh faced after their day off and ready to go. Unlike last Monday there was no trepidation. Everyone had formed friendships, knew where they needed to be and many kicked off their day with their ritual Campos coffee.
Rehearsals and seminars were in full swing with new music to learn, new words to perfect and new orchestras to manage. The Bishop Orchestra got to hear James Ledger’s new work Arcs and Planes come together for the first time and faced down the Adams Harmonielehre with a bit more confidence. The Alexander orchestra tackled the kaleidoscope effect of Webern’s arrangement of Bach’s monumental fugue and the Martin Chamber Orchestra not only continued their exploration of Baroque style but also rehearsed Stravinsky’s Neo-classical Apollon musagete.
The day came to an end with the second Tutor Chamber Music Concert. Elder hall was abuzz as we waited for the concert to begin. Emerging either side of the organ, percussionists Timothy Constable and Mark Robinson performed Tim’s new work Last Waltz. The rhythmic drive was too much for a lone light bulb in the organ loft that burst with the thundering vibrations, equally matched by the thunderous applause from the audience. The performances that followed left us in awe of this year’s tutors. Erin Halyard’s virtuosic solo cadenza balanced with his beautiful realisation of the continuo part in Bach’s fifth Brandenburg Concerto got cheers from the audience and nods of approval from his fellow musicians. Capping off the concert came a brilliant performance of the third and fourth movement from Brahms’ first Piano Quartet. The ensemble, which included Aiko Goto, Stephen King, Howard Penny and Benjamin Martin, had us on the edge of our seats as we watched with admiration. Throughout this exhilarating performance the ensemble led by Aiko took flight. As the final notes rang through the hall the audience gave them a standing ovation and with that the excitement for the week to come was palpable.