Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Floating Shadows featuring Elisabeth Harnick, James Nightingale,
Freya Schack-Arnott, Ben Ward + Siân Lindsay 

BackStage Music presents Floating Shadows, featuring the music of Elisabeth Harnik with Sydney-based artists Freya Schack-Arnott (cello), James Nightingale (saxophone) and Ben Ward (double bass). They will be joined by Sian Lindsay on modular synth. 

As shadows sit between the darkness and light, Floating Shadows explores the interplay between the calculated and the inconceivable. Its sound world is inspired by electro-acoustic sounds and uses specific preparations and extended techniques while pushing the limitations of the instruments. The concert includes the Duo Sonata by the eminent Tartar-Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, who has had a significant presence within 20th century music since emerging from the Russian avant-garde in the 1960’s and 70’s. 

We will also hear the premiere performance of early career composer Sian Lindsay’s Synergy for Saxophone and Modular Synth. 

PROGRAM

Sian Lindsay Synergy for bass clarinet (sax) and modular synth.) 7 mins 

Elisabeth Harnik Floating Shadows (baritone sax, cello and bass) 13 mins  

Elisabeth Harnik piano improvisation 10 mins

Sofia Gaubaidulina Duo Sonata for saxophone and cello 12 mins 

Ben Ward Bass solo 9 mins 

Elisabeth Harnik Toppings 6 mins 

ELISABETH HARNIK, an Austria based pianist and composer has created a multi- faceted body of work by blurring genre boundaries through various collaborations in the field of improvised music, interdisciplinary projects and contemporary compositional works. She studied classical piano and later - with Beat Furrer – composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz. She writes commissioned works and her compositions are performed regularly at concerts and festivals for new music. In addition to her work as composer she appears as pianist at concerts and festivals for improvised music in Europe and abroad. As an improviser she works within an electro-acoustic inspired sound-world, using specific preparations and extended techniques while pushing the limitations of the piano. Her performances draw from physicality and introspection, intuitive playing and high precision.

FREYA SCHACK-ARNOTT is an Australian/Danish cellist who enjoys a multi-faceted career as a soloist and ensemble performer of classical and contemporary repertoire, curator and improviser within experimental music, electronics, popular and cross-disciplinary art forms. Schack-Arnott regularly performs with Australia's leading new music ensembles, including ELISION Ensemble (as core member) and Ensemble Offspring. Her curatorial roles include co-curator/founder of the regular 'Opus Now' music series - an ongoing project exploring relationships between the music of today and Beethoven's sixteen String Quartets - and previous curator of the NOW Now festival and Rosenberg Museum.

JAMES NIGHTINGALE is a classical saxophonist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the alto saxophonist with Continuum Sax and has performed regularly as a casual musician with Sydney’s orchestras since 1993 and toured internationally with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. James taught saxophone at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (1996-2009). He is a member of the peripatetic music staff at Sydney Grammar School and is Assistant Chief Examiner (Woodwind) for the Australian Music Examinations Board (NSW). In his spare time he volunteers as a programmer and presenter at Fine Music 102.5. 

BENJAMIN WARD is a musician and composer based in Sydney. Since 2009, he has been a member of the double bass section of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  A career highlight was his collaboration with Jasmin Sheppard; a piece after the poems of celebrated Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha writer/poet Ali Cobby Eckermann. Recently, Benjamin has performed a solo recital, including his own compositions, at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery; played a solo set of double bass works at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival; and volunteered at the Garma Festival in north east arnhem land for the Yothu Yindi Foundation.

SIAN LINDSAY is a Sydney based composer currently studying under Dr Benjamin Carey at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Sian has developed a keen interest in electroacoustic music and has composed many pieces for solo instruments, small chamber groups and tape. In 2018 Sian was the sound designer for the original theatre piece ‘Organs!’ as part of Shopfront’s arts lab residency.